Yet she looked fresh and well and not tired.

The girl told her story in half a dozen words, as soon as Ghisleri was out of hearing.
"They want me to marry Bosio," she said, and then drew breath, holding both of Bianca's hands and looking into her eyes.
"You?
Marry Bosio Macomer?
Oh! no--Veronica--no!" Bianca's voice expressed the greatest apprehension, for Veronica was almost her only intimate friend.

Veronica seemed surprised.
"Why not ?" she asked.

"That is, if I wished to.

Why do you speak in that way?
Do you know anything about him which I do not know?
You must have some reason." Bianca's exquisite face grew calm and grave, and she looked away, and waited some seconds before she spoke.