"Only I do not see why you should all be in such a hurry.

If Bosio has been in love with me so long as you say, he will remain in love long enough for me to think over the matter, will he not?
If he has been in a state of anxiety for weeks, it will not hurt him to be anxious for one day more--or a week more--or even a month.

After all, it is for all my life, you know, Aunt Matilde.
I must see how the idea looks when I am used to it.

I am not a child, and I am not foolishly frightened at the idea of being married, nor out of my mind with joy at it, either, like a girl of the people." "Of course not," said Matilde, growing a little pale with sheer nervousness.
"I daresay that we should be very happy together," continued Veronica.
"But how can I possibly be sure of it?
No--I suppose that one is never sure of anything until one has tried, but one may feel almost sure that one is going to be sure; that is what I want, before I say 'yes.' Do you wonder ?" "Oh, no!" answered the countess, quickly agreeing with her.

"On the contrary--" At this point the conversation was interrupted by the return of the maid.