XXXVI
關燈
小
中
大
come!'
'Whynot?'
'Becauseyouhateme.'
Ishruggedmyshoulders.
'Ishouldhavethoughtmysentimentswereofnoconsequence.'
'Iwillnotbehelpedbyyou.Youhatemetoomuch.IwillstayinForli.'
'Youareyourownmistress....Whydoyoumind?'
'WhydoImind?ShallItellyou?'Shecamecloseuptome.'Because—becauseIloveyou.'
Myheadswam,andIfeltmyselfstagger....Ididnotknowwhatwashappening.
'Filippo!'
'Giulia!'
Iopenedmyarms,andshefellintothem,andIheldherclosetomyheart,andIcoveredherwithkisses....Icoveredhermouthandeyesandneckwithkisses.
'Giulia!Giulia!'
ButIwrenchedmyselfaway,andtakingholdofhershoulders,saidalmostsavagely.
'ButthistimeImusthaveyoualtogether.Swearthatyouwill—'
Sheliftedhersweetfaceandsmiled,andnestlingcloseuptome,whispered,—
'Willyoumarryme?'
Ikissedher.
'Ilovedyoualways,'Isaid.'Itriedtohateyou,butIcouldnot.'
'DoyourememberthatnightatthePalace?Yousaidyouhadnevercaredforme.'
'Ah,yes!butyoudidnotbelieveme.'
'Ifeltitwasnottrue,butIdidnotknowanditpainedme.AndthenClaudia—'
'Iwassoangrywithyou,IwouldhavedoneanythingtorevengemyselfbutstillIlovedyou.'
'But,Claudia—youlovedhertoo?'
'No,'Iprotested,'IhatedheranddespisedherbutItriedtoforgetyouandIwantedyoutofeelcertainthatInolongercaredforyou.'
'Ihateher.'
'Forgiveme,'Isaid.
'Ifo
