I will not pretend to think that you do not love me.

I know that you do, as well as you know that I love you with my whole heart.

And with this knowledge in both our hearts, think what is the meaning and the end of what you have been saying.

You know that this marriage is inevitable! And the consequence of it is to be that we two are both to be broken-hearted,--to condemn ourselves to pass loveless lives,--to give each other up,--see each other no more,--make all the future a blank to both of us.

Good God, Paolina! You cannot mean that!" "When you have married, Ludovico mio,--when I have said those dear words for the last, last time, you will have plenty of things to make you forget your poor Paolina! And for me, I shall be heart-broken doing no wrong to any other, instead of heart-broken and doing terrible wrong all the time! And, dearest, it would be worse than heart-break.