and steadily gazed upon it. At the expiration of that time, Teresa,
with a pale, tearful face, knelt before him, and in faint,
despairing tones, murmured:

"I accept your terms! Villani's eyes lighted up with a fierce pride,
as he exclaimed:

"I thought to bring you to terms!"

"Tempt me not, Brandini Villani!" vehemently replied Teresa, rising
with flashing eyes; "you may rouse me yet beyond endurance-beware!"
and she pressed her hand to her heart, while an expression of pain
crossed her countenance. The extreme physical suffering so plainly
marked, seemed to move even the hard, unfeeling Villani, who, taking
her hand, said:

"I am afraid you are ill, ma belle," then as he gazed upon her
lovely form and face, half affectionately, half in defiance, he
suddenly exclaimed: "O Teresa, you're the handsomest woman I ever
saw. I could love you so, if you'd let me. Why can't we be friends,
Teresa? I know I did wrong, but why need we make an eternal quarrel
of the matter. Ah, my charming prize, why not transfer to me the
affection you are wasting upon one, who, perhaps ere this, is false
to you, and--"

"Silence! I have borne too long with you from weakness and inability
to speak, but depart now, or I recant my promise of submission."

"To hear is to obey-though the request might have been couched in
more polite terms," returned Villani, his former cold, sarcastic