"
"And you found him kind, too; as kind as his uncle?" said Violante,
stealing a sidelong glance at Paolina.
"Yes, indeed, Signorina," said she, feeling not a little
embarrassment.
"Paolina--you see I know your name, and I think it such a pretty
one--Paolina," said the Contessa Violante, yielding to a sudden
impulse, and taking the hand of the blushing girl, who kept her eyes
fixed on the ground, "shall we be friends, and speak openly to each
other? I should like to."
"Oh, Signorina! so should I, so much. There is nothing I should like
so much--almost nothing," replied Paolina, looking up into her face,
with her own still crimson.
"Tell me, then, if you ever heard my name mentioned in connection
with that of the Marchese Ludovico?" said Violante, looking with a
rather sad and subdued, but yet arch, smile into Paolina's eyes.
"Yes, Signorina, I have so heard," said Paolina, raising her head
with a proud movement, and looking, with well-opened eyes and clear
brow, into Violante's face as she spoke. "I have heard that it was
intended by both your families that you and the Marchese Ludovico
should be married."
"Yes; everybody in Ravenna, I believe, expects to see such a
marriage before long; do you? We are to be friends, you know, and
speak frankly to each other; do you expect it, Paolina?" asked
Violante, still holding her hand, and looking with a smile, half
shrewd, half sad, into her face.
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