And the loss of your child so increases the loneliness of your situation, that it is natural, even necessary, that you should secure a protector as soon as possible.

Society will not censure you, you may be sure--besides, _I_ shall know how to silence any gossip that savors of impertinence." A smile of conscious triumph parted her lips.
"It shall be as you wish," she said, demurely; "if you, who are known in Naples as one who is perfectly indifferent to women like now to figure as an impatient lover.

I shall not object!" And she gave me a quick glance of mischievous amusement from under the languid lids of her dreamy dark eyes.

I saw it, but answered, stiffly: "YOU are aware, contessa, and I am also aware that I am not a 'lover' according to the accepted type, but that I am impatient I readily admit." "And why ?" she asked.
"Because," I replied, speaking slowly and emphatically; "I desire you to be mine and mine only, to have you absolutely in my possession, and to feel that no one can come between us, or interfere with my wishes concerning you." She laughed gayly.

"A la bonne heure! You ARE a lover without knowing it! Your dignity will not allow you to believe that you are actually in love with me, but in spite of yourself you ARE--you know you are!" I stood before her in almost somber silence.