'She is a very happy little Italia now. But, Dino, I did mean it then. If you had been obliged not to give up all those things that father does not like—that club, you know, and those bad men—I would have tried to bear it, Dino. I knew you loved me all the same. And it did not matter so much what any one else thought of you. I believed you—always. For you do love me, Dino?'
He pressed his lips to her hair again without speaking.
'Dino! say you do!'
'I do love you, my Italia. I do love you. God knows how much.'
'Dear Dino. I thought you knew that I could always be like a friend to you, like your little sister, whatever happened. But ah, this is better! I am so happy, Dino. And it is such a beautiful world; it seemed so hard to think that we were always to be hurt in it, always apart and miserable; and the happiness all about us, only we shut out from it, you and I.'
She raised her head. 'Do you know, dear, I could not imagine how you would come back to me? No! don't tell me, you can tell me some other time; to-morrow perhaps; now, I don't want to know. But I imagined—I don't know why, it was very foolish—I imagined there would have to be all sorts of talking, explanations first. It is so wonderful, Dino, happiness is always so much—so much—what shall I say? so much happier that one can possibly foresee it. I never thought of—this. And yet it was so simple.' She had slipped one of her little hands in his, and was pressing his fingers tightly over hers with her other hand, with the contented air of a happy child. 'But, do you know, you frightened me when you first called out, my Dino?'
'Did I frighten you, Italia?'
She lifted her head quickly, letting his hand fall. The suppressed tone of his voice had pierced her heart with its suggestion of untold suffering.
'Dino!'
She held her face close to his, trying to look into his averted eyes. 'Dino, you are unhappy about something? Is it—Oh!'—she shrank suddenly away from him and her face grew rigid and her lips trembled. 'Is it—my Dino, forgive me for saying such a thing!—is it that there has been some mistake—again? Is it that—that—oh, Dino! that you did—not—mean—this?'