By and by, as she sat, she laid her head on the pillow beside him, and her sweet breath fanned his face, while a strange light played in her half-closed eyes.
"Heart of my heart," she sighed happily.

"Love of my soul! Do you know that I am all yours, soul and body, and earrings too ?" And she laughed low.
"You are the most beautiful woman in the world," Marcello answered.

"I love you!" She laughed again, and kissed him.
"You love me better than Aurora," she said suddenly.
"Aurora ?" "Yes, for you have forgotten her.

But you will not forget Regina now, not even when you are very, very old, and your golden hair is all grey.
You will never forget Regina, now!" "Never!" echoed Marcello, like a child.

"Never, never, never!" "Not even when your friends try to take me away from you, love, not even if they try to kill me, because they want you to marry Aurora, who is a rich girl, all dressed with silk and covered with jewels, like the image of the Madonna at Genazzano.