I felt as though, before opening the envelope, I should like to go back a fortnight and put forth all my strength to find the contessina, and gain a comforting sense of duty performed.

If I had only done my best how easy it would have been to face a whole sheet of complaints! Meanwhile the letter was come, and I had done nothing worth mentioning.

I looked at the back of it, and my conscience smote me; but it had to be accomplished, and at last I tore the cover off and read.
Poor Nino! He said he was ill with anxiety, and feared it would injure his voice.

He said that to break his engagement and come back to Rome would be ruin to him.

He must face it out, or take the legal consequences of a breach of contract, which are overwhelming to a young artist.