“I'm afraid that you have guessed too much,” she whispered. “I did not mean to confess anything--I have not even confessed to myself; but you took me so by surprise. Please do not say anything about my foolishness--it really is foolishness. You will let my secret remain a secret--oh, you must, my dear Agnes; I tell you truly when I say that it was a secret even to myself, until your question surprised me, so that I could not help--But I have told you nothing--you will assume that I have told you nothing?” “I will assume anything you please, my dearest child,” said Agnes. “You may trust to me to keep your secret; I will not refer to it, even to yourself. But what about the unhappy Signor Rodani? Is he to return to Italy without seeing you?” “Oh, I will see him at any time,” cried Clare, making a gesture of indifference which she had acquired in Italy. “I do not mind in the least seeing him face to face. What have I to fear from him? There never was any one so foolish as he is.” “I hope he will find his way to the bell-pull,” said Agnes; “although I frankly admit that there is much more romance in approaching the object of one's adoration by a serenade than by a bell-pull, still--I suppose he would be shocked if I were to ask him to dine with us.” “Why should you ask him to dine with us?” said Clare. “Well, when a distinguished stranger comes to our neighbourhood”-- “He would only fancy if he were asked to dinner that I had not made up my mind. He would think that I was merely coquetting with him--that I was anxious to have him still hanging about; and that might spoil his career in addition to its being very unpleasant to myself. No, let him come: I will put him out of pain at once. I am sure that is the most merciful course to pursue in regard to sentimental lovers who are gifted with supersensitive tenor organs. If poor Ciro does not suffer from his escapade to-night he may be tempted to come again upon a rainy night--and where would he be then?” “I am sure that you take the most merciful view of the case,” said Agnes. “Alas! that one should be compelled to talk of the dismissal of a lover as one talks about the lethal chamber!”