The latter soon took his leave, the nurse followed him for instructions, and the brothers were alone together.
'When I left her,' Giovanni said, 'we were engaged to be married.

I wrote to her just before I sailed, but she has not received the letter yet.' 'What shall you do ?' asked Ugo, watching him with sympathy.
'Do?
Marry her, of course! Do you suppose I have changed my mind ?' 'But she is evidently a nun,' objected Ugo.

'She must have taken irrevocable vows.

These nurses are not like Sisters of Charity, I believe, who make their promise for a year only and then are free during one night, to decide whether they will renew it.' Giovanni Severi laughed, but not lightly, nor carelessly, nor scornfully.

It was the short, energetic laughter of a determined man who does not believe anything impossible..