The signora then related to her companion the narrative of the misfortunes and sufferings of Richard Markham.
Mary-Anne listened with profound attention, and, when Isabella terminated her history, exclaimed, "Oh! I knew that he was all of honourable, great, and generous, that human nature could be!"
A profound silence then ensued between the two young ladies, and lasted for some minutes.
At length it was broken by Mary-Anne.
"Oh! well might he have said," she exclaimed, in a sudden ebullition of feeling, as she gazed upon the countenance of the signora,—"well might he have said that his heart was devoted to a lady who was very beautiful! And he might also have observed, as good as she was lovely!"
"Nay—you must not flatter me," returned Isabella.
"You need not hesitate to hear the truth from my lips," said Mary-Anne. "God grant that I may live to see you happily united: I shall then die in peace."
"It is wrong to talk of dying at your age," observed Isabella. "Time will mitigate that passion which has made you unhappy——"
"Oh! Isabella, do you believe that true and sincere love can ever succumb to time?" exclaimed Mary-Anne, almost reproachfully.
"Time cannot extinguish it; but time may soften its pangs," said the Italian lady, desirous to console her unfortunate friend.