INtheeveningattenIwenttothePalazzoAste.TheservantwholetmeintoldmethatDonnaGiuliawasatherfather's,andhedidnotknowwhenshewouldbeback.Iwasintenselydisappointed.Ihadbeenlookingforwardalldaytoseeingher,forthetimeinchurchhadbeensoshort....Theservantlookedatmeasifexpectingmetogoaway,andIhesitatedbutthenIhadsuchadesiretoseeherthatItoldhimIwouldwait.
IwasshownintotheroomIalreadyknewsowell,andIsatdowninGiulia'schair.Irestedmyheadonthecushionswhichhadpressedagainstherbeautifulhair,hercheekandIinhaledthefragrancewhichtheyhadleftbehindthem.
Howlongshewas!Whydidshenotcome?
Ithoughtofhersittingthere.InmymindIsawthebeautiful,softbrowneyes,theredlipshermouthwasexquisite,verydelicatelyshaped,withwonderfulcurves.ItwasforsuchamouthashersthatthesimileofCupid'sbowhadbeeninvented.
Iheardanoisebelow,andIwenttothedoortolisten.Myheartbeatviolently,but,alas!itwasnotshe,and,bitterlydisappointed,Ireturnedtothechair.IthoughtIhadbeenwaitinghours,andeveryhourseemedaday.Wouldshenevercome?
Atlast!Thedooropened,andshecamein—sobeautiful.Shegavemebothherhands.
'Iamsorryyouhavehadtowait,'shesaid,'butIcouldnothelpit.'
'Iwouldwaitahundredyearstoseeyouforanhour.'
Shesatdown,andIlayatherfeet.
'Tellme,'shesaid,'allthathashappenedto-day.'
IdidassheaskedandasIgavemystory,hereyessparkledandhercheeksflushed.Idon'tknowwhatcameovermeIfeltasensationofswooning,andatthesametimeIcaughtforbreath.AndIhadasuddenimpulsetotakeherinmyarmsandkisshermanytimes.
'Howlovelyyouare!'Isaid,raisingmyselftoherside.
Shedidnotanswer,butlookedatme,smiling.Hereyesglistenedwithtears,herbosomheaved.
'Giulia!'
Iputmyarmroundher,andtookherhandsinmine.
'Giulia,Iloveyou!'
Shebentovertome,andputforwardherfaceandthen—thenItookherinmyarmsandcoveredhermouthwithkisses.OhGod!Iwasmad,Ih