For some time the presence and vivacity of Geraldi roused Teresa
from her serious, almost melancholy manners, and the wise ones
looked knowing, and said:--"They had always thought it would come to
something!"

At last Geraldi did what every one was expecting him to; for finding
Teresa alone one morning, he again offered himself with far better
hopes and prospects than he had three years ago. To his infinite
amazement, the color fled from Teresa's cheek, and covering her face
with her hands, she sank upon a lounge with a wild burst of grief.
Geraldi, quite at a loss to interpret the nature of this emotion,
surprised at its excess in one so generally self-possessed,
hesitated what course to pursue, but at length said, in a low tone:

"May I hope?"

"Hope!" repeated Teresa, in a bitter tone--"what have I or any
connection with me to do with that word. O Mary mother, help me-help
me!" she wailed in a fresh agony as her whole frame trembled with
emotion.

Geraldi knew not what to say; with any other person he would have
endeavored to soothe and discover the cause of this grief, but the
agitation of Teresa was so fearful, and in her so unnatural, that he
dared not question; he therefore did the next best thing, which was
to keep silent. In a few minutes the storm had exhausted itself, and
with sternly composed features she rose and addressed Geraldi.

"Forget this! It is seldom my feelings obtain such mastery over me,