but my dark fate occurred so vividly to my mind, that it quite
overpowered me."

"Why not renounce it then? I would strive so earnestly to make a
brighter one for you."

After a moment's hesitation, she seemed to conquer some inward
strife, and said, in a low voice:

"I had thought never to have told it to any human being, but you are
entitled to an explanation, and you are too honorable to expose
me-Florian," here her face was averted--"Florian, I love another!"

For an instant Geraldi remained without motion, then darting forward
he seized her hand, imprinted one despairing kiss upon it, and
without a word, was gone.

Teresa wrung her hands and exclaimed--"Villani, Villani! Could you
know what I suffer, even your hard heart would pity me!"

The afternoon dragged heavily along, and evening was approaching,
when a knock at the door aroused Teresa from a restless reverie.
Bidding the person enter, she beheld Villani, who seated himself by
her side, and informed her that he had something to propose which
might please her. Teresa wondering what it could be, begged him to
proceed.

"I sincerely repent the compact I obliged you to make, and now wish
to destroy it."