Indeed she could hardly be aware how unlike her usual self she appeared.

There were dark rings beneath her eyes, and her eyes themselves seemed to emit a strange light; while an unwonted colour illuminated her olive cheeks, and her voice had a curiously excited tone.

Madame Mayer stared at her so hard that she noticed it.
"Why do you look at me like that ?" asked the Duchessa, with a smile.
"I was wondering what in the world you could find to confess," replied Donna Tullia, sweetly.

"You are so immensely good, you see; everybody wonders at you." Corona's eyes flashed darkly.

She suspected that Madame Mayer noticed something unusual in her appearance, and had made the awkward speech to conceal her curiosity.