I have heard it from Taquisara and from Signor Ghisleri, who are friends of his." "Dying of love for me ?" Veronica broke out in a girlish laugh.

"How absurd! Why does he not ask for me, if that is true?
Not that I would ever marry him! He is like a Perugino angel, with his yellow hair and blue eyes." She laughed again.

Bianca knew from Ghisleri that Gianluca's father had done his best to bring about the marriage.

She was amazed to find that Veronica knew nothing of the negotiations.
"It is very strange," she said thoughtfully, and hesitating as to how much she should tell of what she had heard.
"What is strange ?" asked the young girl.
"That you should not have known about Gianluca.

They go to see him every day.