But who is to assure us that he has not already telegraphed the good news to his friends ?" "It is too awful!" cried Beatrice, leaning back against one of the pillars.
"Besides," said her mother without changing her tone.

"You have changed to-day, you may change again to-morrow--" "Stop, for heaven's sake! Do not make me worse than I am!" Poor Beatrice stopped her ears with her open hands.

The Marchesa looked at her and smiled a little, and shook her head, waiting for the hands to be removed.

At last the young girl began her walk again.
"You should not talk about being worse when you are not bad at all, my dear," said her mother.

"You have done nothing to be ashamed of, and all this is perfectly absurd.