God
grant that such a lot may never befall me."
"It never can befall you, amor mio! but, Ludovico, you could not
only live, but you could love--some other woman;" she uttered the
words with a little gulp of emotion, and continued: "Do you imagine,
that if I lived to a thousand years, I could ever love any other
than you?"
"What right have you to say, Paolina, that I should ever, or could
ever love another but you?" said Ludovico, indignantly.
"Nay, Ludovico, must you not do so always? Are you not professing to
do so even now? Are you not promising your love to the Contessa
Violante? will she not have a better right to your love than I?"
Ludovico started, and drawing himself a little back from Paolina,
looked at her with reproachful surprise. It was not that he was
surprised at learning that she was aware of his engagement to the
Contessa. He had, as has been said, concealed nothing from her in
that respect. But he was vexed, and surprised at the feeling she
manifested on the subject.
"You surprise me, Paolina!" he said. "Would it have been better if I
had concealed all this from you? Many men,--most men perhaps, in
similar circumstances would have done so. But I cannot treat you in
that way. I have been, and would always be open and sincere to you
in all things. You know all about this match.
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