V

ehernearlyeverydaysincemyarrivalinForli,forIreallylikedher.Naturally,IwasnotinlovewithherasMatteosuggested,andIhadnointentionofenteringintothatmiserablestate.Ihadfoundhercharminglysimple,verydifferentfromthemonsterofdissipationshewassupposedtobe.Shemusthavebeenthreeorfour-and-twenty,butinallherwaysshewasquitegirlish,merryandthoughtless,fulloflaughteratonemoment,andthensometriflingthingwouldhappentodiscomposeherandshewouldbebroughttothevergeoftearsbutawordorcaress,evenacompliment,wouldmakeherforgettheunhappinesswhichhadappearedsoterrible,andinaninstantshewouldbewreathedinsmiles.Sheseemedsodelightfullyfragile,sodelicate,soweak,thatonefeltitnecessarytobeverygentlewithher.Icouldnotimaginehowanyonecoulduseahardwordtoherface. Hereyeslitupasshesawme. 'Howlongyou'vebeen,'shesaid.'Ithoughtyouwerenevercoming.' Shealwaysseemedsogladsoseeyouthatyouthoughtshemusthavebeenanxiouslyawaitingyou,andthatyouweretheverypersonofallothersthatshewishedtohavewithher.Ofcourse,Iknewitwasanaffectation,butitwasaverycharmingone. 'Comeandsitbymehere,'shesaid,makingroomformeonacouchthenwhenIhadsatdown,shenestledcloseuptomeinherprettychildishway,asifseekingprotection.'Now,tellmeallyou'vebeendoing.' 'I'vebeentalkingtoMatteo,'Isaid. 'What