The appeal of love was in his voice, as he bent far forward, but she raised her hand in warning.
'No, "Sister Giovanna," please,' she said, checking him, though gently.
He felt the slight rebuke, and remembered that the place was public to the community.
'It was not by chance that you took my name with the veil,' he said, almost in a whisper. 'Did you love me then?'
'I believed that you had been dead two years,' answered the nun slowly.
'But did you love me still, when I was dead?'
'Yes.'
She did not lower her voice, for she was not ashamed, but she looked down. He forgot her rebuke, and called her by her old name again, that had meant life and hope and everything to him through years of captivity.
'Angela!' He did not heed her gesture now, nor the quick word she spoke. 'Yes, I will call you Angela—you love me now——'
She checked him again, with more energy.