room--then I added in a
lower tone:

"I have news of importance--can I speak to you privately?"

She smiled assent, and motioning me by a graceful gesture of her hand
to take a seat, she at once dismissed her maid. As soon as the door had
closed behind the girl I spoke at once and to the point, scarcely
waiting till my wife resumed her easy-chair before the fire.

"I have had a letter from Signor Ferrari."

She started slightly, but said nothing, she merely bowed her head and
raised her delicately arched eyebrows with a look of inquiry as of one
who should say, "Indeed! in what way does this concern me?" I watched
her narrowly, and then continued, "He is coming back in two or three
days--he says he is sure," and here I smiled, "that you will be
delighted to see him."

This time she half rose from her seat, her lips moved as though she
would speak, but she remained silent, and sinking back again among her
violet velvet cushions, she grew very pale.

"If," I went on, "you have any reason to think that he may make himself
disagreeable to you when he knows of your engagement to me, out of
disappointed ambition, conceit, or self-interest (for of course YOU
never encouraged him), I should advise you to go on a visit to some
friends for a few days, till his irritation shall have somewhat passed.
What say you to such a plan?"

She appeared to meditate for a few moments--then raising her lovely
eyes with a wistful and submissive look, she replied:

"It shall be as you wish, Cesare! Signor Ferrari is certainly rash and
hot-tempered, he might be presumptuous enough to--But you do not think
of yourself in the matter! Surely YOU also are in danger of being
insulted by him when he knows all?"

"I shall be on my guard!" I said, quietly. "Besides, I can easily
pardon any outburst of temper on his part--it will be perfectly
natural, I think! To lose all hope of ever winning such a love as yours
must needs be a sore trial to one of his hot blood and fiery impulses.
Poor fellow!" and I sighed and shook my head with benevolent
gentleness. "By the way, he tells me he has had letters from you?"

I put this question carelessly, but it took her by surprise. She caught
her breath hard and looked at me sharply, with an alarmed expression.
Seeing that my face was perfectly impassive, she recovered her
composure instantly, and answered:

"Oh, yes! I have been compelled to write to him once or twice on
matters of business connected wi