Well, she had a bouquet of white roses with her all the same." At this Benedetta indulged in a burst of frank merriment, and Dario, still looking at her, also laughed.

She had twitted him during the early days because no young woman ever sent to make inquiries about him.

For his part, he was not displeased with the rupture, for the continuance of the connection might have proved embarrassing; and so, although his vanity may have been slightly hurt, the news that he was already replaced in La Tonietta's affections was welcome rather than otherwise.

"Ah!" he contented himself with saying, "the absent are always in the wrong." "The man one loves is never absent," declared Celia with her grave, candid air.
However, Benedetta had stepped up to the bed to raise the young man's pillows: "Never mind, Dario _mio_," said she, "all those things are over; I mean to keep you, and you will only have me to love." He gave her a passionate glance and kissed her hair.

She spoke the truth: he had never loved any one but her, and she was not mistaken in her anticipation of keeping him always to herself alone, as soon as they should be wedded.