The poor girl's good and evil angels were busy deciding her fate for her at that moment.
"Open your little gift and see whether you like the reason I give you for coming here," said San Miniato, who was pleased with the turn of the phrase and thought it as well to repeat it.

"Open it, Teresinella, bella, bella--the first of as many as you like--and come and sit beside me on the bench there and let me talk a little.

I have so much to say to you, all pretty things which you will like, and the hour is short, you know." Poor girl! He was a fine gentleman with a very great name, as Teresina knew, and he was young still and handsome, and had winning ways, and she loved gold and pretty speeches dearly.

She looked down, still shrinking away from him, till she stood with her back to a tree.

Her fresh young face was almost white now and her eyelids trembled from time to time, while her lips moved though she was not conscious of what she wanted to say.
"Ah, Teresina!" he exclaimed, with a nicely adjusted cadence of passion in the tone.