"None in the least. Every one hopes that we may. Besides—" she stopped short.
"What is the other consideration?" Guido enquired.
"If I am perfectly frank—brutally frank—shall you be less my friend?"
"No. Much more."
"I do not wish to marry at all," said Cecilia, and again she reminded him of the Sphinx. "But if I ever should change my mind, since you and I have been picked out to make a match, I suppose I might as well marry you as any one else."
"Oh, quite as well!"
Then Guido laughed, as he rarely did, not loudly, but with all his heart, and Cecilia did not try to check her amusement either.
"I suppose it really is very funny," she said.
"The only thing necessary is that no one should ever guess that we have made a compact. That would be fatal."
"No one!" cried the young girl, eagerly. "No one! Not even your friend!"