"Pardon me, I have wronged you-it is indeed worse than foolish to
cherish animosity toward each other, and henceforth let us not
forget we are of one great family, equally cared for by our heavenly
Father!"

Villani took Teresa's hands, and kissing them, thanked her so warmly
and earnestly that she could not doubt his sincerity, and though she
was aware love was impossible, she hoped to respect him more than
she had done. Villani on his part, had acquired enough by Teresa to
afford this seeming generosity, and his sole object was to win her
love; he was well aware if his motive was known to her, she would
not have accepted this proffered friendship, and he rejoiced that
his past conduct had been such as to forbid the supposition that he
sought anything more. Presently there came a pause in the
conversation, and Villani, after gazing intently upon his companion,
observed:

"How much you have altered since I first saw you, Teresa. I suppose
it is partly owing to your natural progress from childhood to
womanhood-why, you must be nineteen?"

"Just twenty."

"Perhaps you are even handsomer than you were four years ago,
although I see you have called in the aid of foreign ornament-it was
the wisest course, however."

The rich color which suddenly dyed Teresa's cheeks, most certainly
was not the gift of art, yet she assented to Villani's words.