'Darling!'
He kept his arm about her, and she nestled close against him, her soft cheek pressed against the rough woollen of his pilot coat.
'I knew you would come back, my Dino. For I love you so. And the blessed Madonna is so very good. I prayed to her. I knew you would come back to me.'
She lay quite still for a moment; all her weight resting against his shoulder. Then she moved uneasily. 'You are sure it is you, Dino? Really you? It is not a dream?'
'No, dear.'
He bent his head and covered her hair with softest kisses. 'It is no dream, my Italia. It is like being in Heaven.'
'Yes.'
She sighed with perfect content.
But presently she moved a little away from him and turned, leaning both hands upon his breast. 'Dino, it was quite true, all that I told you, up there, at the church, the other morning. That dreadful morning! Dino, when you went away I felt as if my heart were dead.'
'My poor little Italia!'