she replied--"Alas, I am aware I have no friends to protect me,"
quite startled her companion out of his composure. He had resolved
never to speak of his affection till he had more reason for hope
than he then possessed, but at these words his resolution was
forgotten, and rapidly, earnestly, he detailed his past wishes and
present hopes, and urged her to reply. For an instant she was
silent, but then she addressed him in firm, sad, yet kind tones.

"This declaration is wholly unexpected to me, and while I cannot but
be flattered at the compliment-the highest a man can offer, I am
obliged to decline it. Your pity for me has perhaps misled you into
the belief that you love me, but you will soon forget one that can
never be yours."

Geraldi, who thought she might doubt he loved her sufficiently, was
about to assure her on that point, but he had scarcely commenced
speaking, ere she interrupted him.

"Even supposing I loved you as I ought to the man whose heart I take
into my keeping, there are obstacles-do not ask what-such being the
case, is it not best to conquer all but friendship in the
beginning?"

"Alas, it may be easy for you to counsel who do not endure, but this
is not the beginning of my love," murmured the Italian, in
despairing accents, as he left her.

The tone and mournful eyes made Teresa unhappy; she regretted deeply
the necessity of giving pain in this world, though she felt she
might unavoidably be the cause of more disappointments than even the