Alpha Book

Even
physically, Orsino had improved, though the change was undefinable.
Young as he was, something of the power of mature manhood was already
coming over his youth.
"You must have thought me very--rude," said Maria Consuelo, breaking the
silence and speaking with a slight hesitation which Orsino had never
noticed before.
"It is not for me to complain, Madame," he answered. "You had every
right--"
He stopped short, for he was reluctant to admit that she had been
justified in her behaviour towards him.
"Thanks," she said, with an attempt to laugh. "It is pleasant to find
magnanimous people now and then. I do not want you to think that I was
capricious. That is all."
"I certainly do not think that. You were most consistent. I called three
times and always got the same answer."
He fancied that he heard her sigh, but she tried to laugh again.
"I am not imaginative," she answered. "I daresay you found that out long
go. You have much more imagination than I."
"It is possible, Madame--but you have not cared to develop it.


Pages:
373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397