self, I think the only thing to do is to find out what you
really feel, before taking an irreparable step."

"Yes," said Marcello, who had fallen into the trap laid for him. "I know
that. But how am I to make sure of myself?"

"There is only one way," Folco answered. "I know it is not easy, and if
I were not sure that you are perfectly sincere I should be afraid to
propose it to you."

"What is it? Tell me. You are the only friend I have in the world,
Folco, and I want to do what is right. God knows, I am in earnest! There
are moments when I cannot imagine living without Regina--it seemed hard
to leave her this morning, even for these few hours, and I long to be
back at Pontresina already! Yet you know how fond I am of you, and how I
like to be with you, for we have always been more like brothers than
anything else."

"Indeed we have!" Folco assented fervently. "You were saying that there
were moments--yes?"

"Sometimes she jars upon me dreadfully," Marcello said in a low voice,
as if he were ashamed of owning it. "Then I want to get away."

"Exactly. You want to get away, not to leave her, but to be alone for a
few hours, or a few days. That would be the very best thing you could
do--to separate for a little while. You would very soon find out whether
you could live without her or not; and believe me, if you feel that you
can live without her, that means that you could not live with her for
your whole life."

"I should go back to her in twenty-four hours. I am sure I should."

"Perhaps you would, if you went, say, from here to Paris alone, with
nothing to distract your attention. But suppose that you and I should go
together, to some place where we should meet our friends, all amusing
themselves, where you could talk to other women, and meet men of your
own age, and lead the life people expect you to lead, just for a few
weeks. You know that society will be only too glad to see something of
you, whenever you choose to go near it. You are what is called a good
match, and all the mothers with marriageable daughters would run after
you."

"Disgusting!" exclaimed Marcello, with contempt.

"No doubt, but it would be a wholesome change and a good test. When a
young girl is determined to be a nun, she is generally made to spend a
year in society, in order to make acquaintance with what she intends to
give up. I don't see much difference between that and your case. Before
you say good-bye for ever to your own world