Ah, Corona!" he cried suddenly, "forgive me, forgive me! I hardly knew what I said." "Hush!" said the Duchessa, gently; "you must not speak like that, nor call me Corona.

Perhaps I am wrong to forgive you wholly, but I believe in you.

I believe you will understand, and that you will be worthy of the trust I place in you." "Indeed, Duchessa, none shall say that they have trusted me in vain," answered Giovanni very proudly--"neither man nor woman--and, least of all women, you." "That is well," said she, with a faint shadow of a smile.

"I would rather see you proud than reckless.

See that you remain so--that neither by word nor deed you ever remind me that I have had anything to forgive.