"A sin, a sin."
"You must call things by their right names, and not let your imagination get the better of you," he answered, somewhat coldly. "A youthful folly."
"Well, be it as you wish," she said, humbly; "but if you knew——"
"There, there," murmured Cesare Dias with the shadow of a smile, "calm yourself; we'll speak of this another day."
Laura had come back into the room, and her presence cut short their talk.
That evening, by the faint light of a little lamp that hung before an image of the Virgin at her bedside, Anna saw the big grey eyes of Laura gazing at her inquiringly; and therewith she raised herself a little on her pillow and called her sister to her.
"You are good; you don't know——"
"You mustn't excite yourself."
"You are innocent, Laura, but you are my sister. Don't judge me harshly."
"I don't judge you, Anna."