"It is equally disagreeable to me to dance with any other partner; I
am not well, as I have told you, Signor Ludovico; I have no business
to be here; I think my health becomes weaker from day to day. And
the blessed Saints only know when it may be possible to think of
carrying into effect the arrangements desired by our parents!"
"I am sure that mine would not wish to urge you on the subject to--
to decide more quickly than you would wish to. I can assure you,
Signora, nothing would be more contrary to my own feelings than to
do any such violence to yours. Indeed I may say--"
"Yes, yes! I think I understand all about it, Signor Ludovico. Might
it not be possible to find means of pleasing all parties in this
matter, if only all parties understood each other, Signor Ludovico?"
She dropped her voice almost to a whisper as she said these last
words, with a rapid furtive glance at his face.
"And now," she added, speaking in a louder tone, we had better give
our minds to the present scene of the farce, and perform the opening
quadrille, as is expected of us!"
"I am truly sorry, Signora, that you should be called upon to do
this sort of thing, when you are so unwell, as to make it even more
disagreeable than it might be to you otherwise. But believe me,"
continued he, speaking in a low voice, and with an emphasis that
indicated that his words had reference rather to what she had spoken
to him in a similar tone than to the words of his own which had
immediately preceded them,--"believe me that it is my wish to meet
your wishes in all respects.
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