She told her little story timidly, but truthfully, looking from her mother to the Signora while she spoke, and wondering what would happen when she had finished.
"He said, 'You shall wish me back, but I will not come.' I think those were his last words." "You have broken my boy's heart!" cried the Signora Corbario, turning her face away.
Maddalena, whose heart had really been broken long ago, could not help smiling.
"I am sure I did not mean to," cried Aurora, contritely.

"And after all, though I daresay it was my fault, he called me a miserable little flirt, and I only called him a baby." Maddalena would have laughed if her friend had not been in such real distress.

As for Aurora, she did not know whether she would have laughed or cried if she had not felt that her girl's dignity was at stake.

As it was, she grew preternaturally calm.
"You have driven him away," moaned the Signora piteously.

"You have driven away my boy! Was he not good enough for you ?" She asked the question suddenly and vehemently, turning upon poor Aurora with something like fury.