He leaned forward and tried to draw her toward him, looking into her eyes. She yielded a little, and their faces came a little nearer to each other, and still a little nearer. All at once a deep blush rose in her cheeks, she turned her head away and drew back quickly.
"Not for all the world!" she exclaimed, in a tone that was new to Orsino's ear.
He tried to take her hand again, but she would not give it.
"No, no! Go—you are not to be trusted!" she cried, avoiding him.
"Why are you so unkind?" he asked, almost passionately.
"I have been kind enough for this day," she answered. "Pray go—do not stay any longer—I may regret it."
"My staying?"
"No—my kindness. And do not come again for the present. I would rather see you at Del Ferice's than here."
Orsino was quite unable to understand her behaviour, and an older and more experienced man might have been almost as much puzzled as he. A long silence followed, during which he sat quite still and she looked steadily at the cover of a book which lay on the table.
"Please go," she said at last, in a voice which was not unkind.