"But Bastianello mio!" cried Teresina, who had suspected what was coming, "I do not want to marry Ruggiero at all."
She clasped her hands and gazed into the sailor's eyes with a pretty look of confusion and regret.
"You do not want to marry Ruggiero!" Bastianello's expression certainly betrayed more surprise than disappointment. But he had honestly pleaded his brother's cause. "Then you do not love him," he said, as though unable to recover from his astonishment.
"But no—I do not love him at all, though he is so handsome and good."
"Madonna mia!" exclaimed Bastianello, turning sharply round and moving away a step or two. He was in great perturbation of spirit, for he loved the girl dearly, and he began to fear that he had not done his best for Ruggiero.
"But you did love him a few days ago," he said, coming back to
Teresina's side.
"Indeed, I never did!" she said.
"Nor any one else?" asked Bastianello suddenly.
"Eh! I did not say that," answered the girl, blushing a little and looking down.
"Well do not tell me his name, because I should tell Ruggiero, and
Ruggiero might do him an injury. It is better not to tell me."