"When you do," she said, "I would rather it should not be before
people."

"I shall try to remember that," answered Marcello, considerably
emboldened.

"Yes, do! It would be so humiliating if I boxed your ears in the
presence of witnesses."

"You would not dare," laughed Marcello.

From a distance, as Aurora had guessed, Folco was watching them while he
quietly talked to the Contessa; and as he watched, he understood what a
change had taken place since last year, when he had seen Marcello and
Aurora riding over the same stretch of sand on the same little horses.
He ventured a reflection, to see what his companion would answer.

"I daresay many people would say that those two young people were made
for each other."

Maddalena looked at him inquiringly and then glanced at her daughter.

"And what do you say?" she asked, with some curiosity.

"I say 'no.' And you?"

"I agree with you. Aurora is like me--like what I was. Marcello would
bore her to death in six months, and Aurora would drive him quite mad."

Corbario smiled.