Good God, Paolina! You
cannot mean that!"
"When you have married, Ludovico mio,--when I have said those dear
words for the last, last time, you will have plenty of things to
make you forget your poor Paolina! And for me, I shall be heart-
broken doing no wrong to any other, instead of heart-broken and
doing terrible wrong all the time! And, dearest, it would be worse
than heart-break. I could not--it is stronger than I am! It seems
like a new horrible thing shown to me, which I never saw or thought
of before! When it comes close to me I shudder at the thought--."
"At what thought, Paolina? At the thought of my being married to the
Contessa Violante?" asked Ludovico, looking steadfastly into her
eyes.
She bore his gaze without withdrawing her sad, still eyes for
awhile, thinking deeply before she answered.
"No, Ludovico; not at the thought of your being married to the
Contessa Violante! That is a thought which may break my heart. But
it does not make me shudder, as that other thought does;--the
thought of--of---of loving one, who--who--who owes his love to
another; the thought of taking by stealth whatever share of love may
be given to me stolen from the rightful owner. Never! never! never!
Would you then be mine,--all mine, for ever, and ever, and ever! Oh,
my love, my love! If you don't understand this, love has not opened
your eyes as it has mine.
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