"
"But there is still something troubling your mind, Lamberto. See, I
already take the wifely privilege you have given me to wish to share
all that annoys you. What is it? Come and sit by me here on the
sofa, and tell me all about it."
And then the Marchese sat himself in the seat of danger that had
been proposed to him, and, in a certain degree, explained to Bianca
the difficulties attending a marriage with her. He tried hard to
recommend to her favourable consideration the plan of a secret
marriage--of a marriage to be kept secret, at all events, for awhile
for the present; but such an arrangement, as may easily be
understood, did not, in Bianca's view, meet the requirements of the
case. That was not what she wanted. It may also be easily understood
that the Marchese, occupying the position which the enemy had
assigned to him, carried on the contest at an overpowering
disadvantage, and was finally routed, utterly conquered, and yielded
at discretion.
On her side the advantages of the situation were made the most of
with the most consummate generalship. The limit between that which
was permitted to him, and that which was denied to him, was drawn
with a firmness and judgment admirably conducive to the attainment
of the end in view. He was permitted to encircle the slender,
yielding waist with one arm as he sat by her side on the sofa, and
to retain possession of her hand with the other; but any advanced
movement from this base of operations was firmly and unhesitatingly
repressed.
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