She appeared to meditate for a few moments--then raising her lovely eyes with a wistful and submissive look, she replied: "It shall be as you wish, Cesare! Signor Ferrari is certainly rash and hot-tempered, he might be presumptuous enough to--But you do not think of yourself in the matter! Surely YOU also are in danger of being insulted by him when he knows all?"
"I shall be on my guard!" I said, quietly. "Besides, I can easily pardon any outburst of temper on his part--it will be perfectly natural, I think! To lose all hope of ever winning such a love as yours must needs be a sore trial to one of his hot blood and fiery impulses. Poor fellow!" and I sighed and shook my head with benevolent gentleness. "By the way, he tells me he has had letters from you?"
I put this question carelessly, but it took her by surprise. She caught her breath hard and looked at me sharply, with an alarmed expression. Seeing that my face was perfectly impassive, she recovered her composure instantly, and answered: "Oh, yes! I have been compelled to write to him once or twice on matters of business connected with my late husband's affairs. Most unfortunately, Fabio made him one of the trustees of his fortune in case of his death--it is exceedingly awkward for me that he should occupy that position--it appears to give him some authority over my actions. In reality he has none. He has no doubt exaggerated the number of times I have written to him? it would be like his impertinence to do so."
Though this last remark was addressed to me almost as a question, I let it pass without response. I reverted to my original theme.
"What think you, then?" I said. "Will you remain here or will you absent yourself for a few days?"
She rose from her chair and approaching me, knelt down at my side, clasping her two little hands round my arm. "With your permission," she returned, softly, "I will go to the convent where I was educated. It is some eight or ten miles distant from here, and I think" (here she counterfeited the most wonderful expression of ingenuous sweetness and piety)--"I think I should like to make a 'RETREAT'--that is, devote some time solely to the duties of religion before I enter upon a second marriage. The dear nuns would be so glad to see me--and I am sure you will not object? It will be a good preparation for my future."