And I shall marry Dario next spring, perhaps sooner, if the formalities can be hastened.

He is going to Naples this evening about the sale of some property which we still possess there, but which must now be sold, for all this business has cost us a lot of money.
Still, that doesn't matter since we now belong to one another.

And when he comes back in a few days, what a happy time we shall have! I could not sleep when I got back from that splendid ball last night, for my head was so full of plans--oh! splendid plans, as you shall see, for I mean to keep you in Rome until our marriage." Like herself, Pierre began to laugh, so gained upon by this explosion of youth and happiness that he had to make a great effort to refrain from speaking of his own delight, his hopefulness at the thought of his coming interview with the Pope.

Of that, however, he had sworn to speak to nobody.
Every now and again, amidst the quivering silence of the sunlit garden, the cry of a bird persistently rang out; and Benedetta, raising her head and looking at a cage hanging beside one of the first-floor windows, jestingly exclaimed: "Yes, yes, Tata, make a good noise, show that you are pleased, my dear.

Everybody in the house must be pleased now." Then, turning towards Pierre, she added gaily: "You know Tata, don't you?
What! No?
Why, Tata is my uncle's parrot.