His voice rose and fell in impassioned cadence, his eyes burned into hers, how was she not to believe him? How was she to refuse the succour so timely offered, seemingly so disinterested? Still she made an effort. "I must think it over, you must go away and let me think--oh, don't imagine I do not recognise your generosity--but I cannot think it right for me to take advantage of it." "Ragna," he said solemnly, "this means more to me than you think. I told you that my life without you would be worth nothing to me. I give you my word of honour that if you refuse I will kill myself--I can't live without you. I mean what I say and I always speak the truth. When I was a little boy in the _collegio_ Cardinal Ferri who was the head-master used to call me up when there had been any mischief, and say to me: 'Tell me the straight of this, Valentini, you are the only one I know who always speaks the truth!' and I would weep, I would struggle, but I had to tell the truth, and I did. And remember, Ragna, if you marry me, I will be a brother to you, dear, it will be enough for me just to have you near me, to feel your sweet presence in the house, to have your society always:--I will not ask for more unless you give it of your own accord." "Give me time," said Ragna desperately, "give me time to think it over." "Very well, I will give you until to-morrow at this hour. I shall come for my answer,--and if it is not 'yes,' you know what will happen, I swear it!" He released her hands and she passed them over her face. "Till to-morrow," she said, "that is not much time." "It is enough,--and it is too long for a man to wait for his death sentence or for the gift of life. Oh, Ragna, I do love you so! It must be yes." "Now you must go," she said. "Don't send me away, dear,--here at least I can see you, I am with you, life is possible. Let me stay a little longer!" "No, you must go now, I can't think clearly with you here. If you want your answer to-morrow you must go now." "I will go then, dear, since you wish it--see how obedient I am! You can do anything with me, anything, Ragna darling! Give me one kiss then and I will go?" He bent over her but she turned her head away. "No, not that! and you said in any case that you would be content to be a brother to me." "But you would let a brother kiss you! Just one, darling!" "No," she said firmly and he saw that it would be unwise to insist. "As you will, then, dear,--see, again I yield to your wish, and to-morrow you will give me my answer--remember what it will mean to me and to you." He rose and slowly crossed the room and, as he reached the door, turned with the one word, "Remember!"