"Mother," added she, with that strange emotion to which she was sometimes a victim, "I think that this unfortunate affair is but the beginning of the realization of the unfortunate fate which I know is reserved for me. It seems to me that on yesterday our evil days began." She hid her head in her mother's bosom to conceal her tears, and to find a refuge against the misfortunes she feared. A servant came in, and said, "The Marquis de Maulear wishes to wait on the ladies." "Mother, mother," said Aminta, "how can I refrain from blushing before him?" Signora Rovero bade the servant show the Marquis in. Then arranging Aminta's beautiful hair, she kissed her forehead, and said: "Daughter, one never blushes in the presence of a husband." Aminta, with great surprise, looked at her mother. "Ah, ah!" said Madame Rovero, with a smile, "a parent's eyes see much." Before Aminta had time to speak, the Marquis entered. He was pale and excited. "Signora," said he to Aminta's mother, "I come to beg you to pardon me for a great fault." "To what, Signor, do you refer?" "Of the greatest of all faults, after the manner in which I have been received, and your kindness towards me--for not having confided in you, and said yesterday what I wish to say to-day. Yet only from you have I kept my secret. Yesterday, nothing obliged you to grant me the favor I am about to solicit: yesterday, you might have refused it. To-day, perhaps, it will be less difficult. A circumstance favorable only to myself," added he, with a timid glance at Aminta, "marks out my conduct, which assumes now the aspect of an obligation. It fulfils all my wishes, and makes me the happiest of men. In one word, signora, I come to beg that you will suffer me to become allied to your family." "Marquis," said Signora Rovero, "I expected to hear you speak thus, for I was sure of your honor. But far from wishing that now for the first time you had informed my daughter of the sentiments with which she has inspired you, I rejoice that your course has been different. Without this motive, signor, neither my daughter nor I would accept the alliance you wish to offer us. _No reparation can be exacted, where no fault has been committed._ I wish to strengthen your conscience, by assuring you, that in my opinion nothing obliges you to the course you have adopted, if it interferes with your prospects and success."