They stood so very near that his arm had almost stolen about her slender waist, he almost thought he was supporting her.
Suddenly, without the least warning, she drew herself up to her full height, and thrust Giovanni back to her arm's length strongly, almost roughly.
"Never!" she said.

"I am a weak woman, but not so weak as that.

I am miserable, but not so miserable as to listen to you.

Giovanni Saracinesca, you say you love me--God grant it is not true! but you say it.

Then, have you no honour, no courage, no strength?
Is there nothing of the man left in you?
Is there no truth in your love, no generosity in your heart?
If you so love me as you say you do, do you care so little what becomes of me as to tempt me to love you ?" She spoke very earnestly, not scornfully nor angrily, but in the certainty of strength and right, and in the strong persuasion that the headstrong man would hear and be convinced.