XII

nowher.Isweartoyouthatsheisgoodandpure,whatevershemayhavebeeninthepastandIdonotbelieveawordofthesescandals.Iamsurethatnowsheisastrueandfaithfulassheisbeautiful.' Matteolookedatmeforamoment. 'Areyouherlover?'heasked. 'Yes!' Matteoopenedhismouthasifabouttospeak,thenstopped,andafteramoment'shesitationturnedaway. ThateveningIwenttoGiulia.Ifoundherlyingfulllengthonadivan,herheadsunkeninsoftcushions.Shewasimmersedinreverie.Iwonderedwhethershewasthinkingofme,andIwentuptohersilently,and,bendingoverher,lightlykissedherlips.Shegaveacry,andafrowndarkenedhereyes. 'Youfrightenedme!' 'Iamsorry,'Iansweredhumbly.'Iwantedtosurpriseyou.' Shedidnotanswer,butraisedhereyebrows,slightlyshrugginghershoulders.Iwonderedwhethersomethinghadarisentovexher.Iknewshehadaquicktemper,butIdidnotminditacrosswordwassosoonfollowedbyalookofrepentanceandawordoflove.Ipassedmyhandoverherbeautifulsofthair.Thefrowncameagain,andsheturnedherheadaway. 'Giulia,'Isaid,'whatisit?'Itookherhandshewithdrewitimmediately. 'Nothing,'sheanswered. 'Whydoyouturnawayfrommeandwithdrawyourhand?' 'WhyshouldInotturnawayfromyouandwithdrawmyhand?' 'Don'tyouloveme,Giulia?' Shegaveasigh,andpretendedtolookbored.Ilookedather,painedatheartandwondering. 'Giulia,mydear,tellmewhatitis.Youaremakingmeveryunhappy.' 'Oh,don'tItellyou,nothing,nothing,nothing!' 'Whyareyoucross?' Iputmyfacetoher's,andmyarmsroundherneck.Shedisengagedherselfimpatiently. 'Yourefusemykisses,Giulia!' Shemadeanothergestureofannoyance. 'Giulia,don'tyouloveme?'Myheartwasbeginningtosink,andIrememberedwhatIhadheardfromMatteo.Oh,God!coulditbetrue?... 'Yes,ofcourseIloveyou,butsometimesImustbeleftinpeace.' 'Youhaveonlytosaytheword,andIwillgoawayaltogether.' 'Idon'twantyoutodothat,butweshalllikeoneanothermuchbetterifwedon'tseetoom