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iseryagainwasequaltothepassivehappiness.Finallycametheblessedstateofindifference,and,exceptfortheremembrance,myheartwasasifnothinghadbeenatall.Soitseemedtomethatoneoughtnottocomplainforiftheworldhadnorighttogiveonecontinualmisery,onehadnocausetoexpectunmingledhappiness,andtheconjunctionofthetwo,inallthingsequal,seemednormalandreasonable.AndIhadnotnoticedthatIwascometoForli. Ienteredthegatewithapleasantsenseofhomecoming.IpassedalongthegreystreetsIwasbeginningtoknowsowell,andfeltforthemsomethingoftheaffectionofoldfriends.Iwasglad,too,thatIshouldshortlyseeCheccoandmydearMatteo.IfeltIhadbeenunkindtoMatteo:hewassofondofmeandhadalwaysbeensogood,butIhadbeensowrappedupinmylovethathisverypresencehadbeenimportunate,andIhadrespondedcoldlytohisfriendliness.Andbeingtheninasentimentalmood,Ithoughthowmuchbetterandmoretrustworthyafriendistothemostlovelywomanintheworld.Youcouldneglecthimandbeunfaithfultohim,andyetifyouwereintroubleyoucouldcomebackandh