Possibly there was a dreaminess about her blue eyes that made up for her manner; but how Nino could love her I cannot understand.

It must have been like making love to a pillar of ice.
"I am much indebted to you for allowing me to come at this hour, signorina," he said, as he bowed.
"Ah, professore, it looks almost as though it were you yourself who were to make your _debut_" said she, laughing and leaning back in her chair.

"Your name is on every corner in Rome, and I saw you coming out of a side door of the theatre this morning." Nino trembled, but reflected that if she had suspected anything she would not have made so light of it.
"The fact is, signorina, my cousin is so nervous that he begged me earnestly to be present at the rehearsal this morning; and as it is the great event of his life, I could not easily refuse him.

I presume you are going to hear him, since I saw your carriage at the theatre." "Yes.

At the last minute my father wanted to change our box for one nearer the stage, and so we went ourselves.