Vittoria — Volume 7 by George Meredith
page 63 of 104 (60%)
page 63 of 104 (60%)
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She understood his boyish sense of shame. Making smooth allowances for a feeling natural to his youth and the circumstances, she said, "I am your sister, for you were my husband's brother in arms, Carlo. We two speak heart to heart: I sometimes fancy you have that voice: you hurt me with it more than you know; gladden me too! My Carlo, I wish to hear why Countess d'Isorella objects to your marriage." "She does not object." "An answer that begins by quibbling is not propitious. She opposes it." "For this reason: you have not forgotten the bronze butterfly?" "I see more clearly," said Laura, with a start. "There appears to be no cure for the brute's mad suspicion of her," Carlo pursued: "and he is powerful among the Milanese. If my darling takes my name, he can damage much of my influence, and--you know what there is to be dreaded from a fanatic." Laura nodded, as if in full agreement with him, and said, after meditating a minute, "What sort of a lover is this!" She added a little laugh to the singular interjection. "Yes, I have also thought of a secret marriage," said Carlo, stung by her penetrating instinct so that he was enabled to read the meaning in her mind. |
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