"No, never mine! The very word itself, which comes so
naturally to my lips, tells me, like a knell in my heart, that it
can never be!"
"But, Paolina, angiola mia," said Ludovico, who had heard her with a
look of consternation, "what has thus changed you? For it is a
change. You knew all these things before. What has occurred to put
such notions into your mind all of a sudden?"
"Not all of a sudden, Ludovico! The blessed Virgin knows for how
many sad and solitary hours I have been thinking, and thinking, and
thinking of all this! She knows how many nights I have passed in
tears to think of it. What has put it into my head, you say?
Ludovico, it is my love for you that has put it into my head! It is
my strong love that has opened my eyes, and made me see that I
cannot--cannot--I mean--that I cannot share your love with another!"
The words came forced from her with a great effort, and with a sob
that seemed as if it would choke her.
"Oh my Paolina, what words are these?" said he, his own voice
trembling with trouble and emotion.
"It is true, Ludovico! It is my true love that has opened my eyes. I
fear that I have done very wrong; and the blessed Saints know that I
shall have my punishment! I have done wrong in loving you, and
letting you love me! But I did not know it, I did not think, I did
not see where I was going! I ought to have known that love was not
for a poor girl like me! I ought to have known that evil and misery
would come.
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