It was very hot in the big room, for the window was still shut.
"Tell me how you really feel," Marietta said, almost at once.
Every woman who loves a man and is anxious about him is sure that if she can be alone with him for a moment, he will tell her the truth about his condition.

The experience of thousands of years has not taught women that if there is one person in the world from whom a man will try to conceal his ills and aches, it is the woman he loves, because he would rather suffer everything than give her pain.
"I feel perfectly well," said Zorzi.
"Indeed you are not!" answered Marietta, energetically.

"If you were perfectly well you would be on your feet, doing your work yourself.

Why will you not tell me ?" "I mean, I have no pain," said Zorzi.
"You had great pain just now, when you tried to move," retorted Marietta.

"You know it.