"I had not thought of you in that light. I liked
you, the first time I saw you. That is much simpler than pitying."
He laughed again, but it was at himself.
"You treat me like a child," Sabina said with a little petulance. "You
have no right to!"
"Shall I treat you like a woman, Donna Sabina?" he said, suddenly
serious.
"Yes. I am sure I am old enough."
"If you were not, I should certainly not feel as I do towards you."
"What do you mean?"
"If you are a woman, you probably guess."
"No."
"You may be offended," suggested Malipieri.
"Not unless you are rude--or pity me." She smiled now.
"Is it very rude to like a person?" he asked. "If you think it is, I
will not go on."
"I am not sure," said Sabina demurely, and she looked down.
"In that case it is wiser not to run the risk of offending you past
forgiveness!"
It was very amusing to hear him talk, for no man had ever talked to
her in this way before. She knew that he was thought immensely clever,
but he did not seem at all superior now, and she was glad of it. She
should have felt very foolish if he had discoursed to her learnedly
about Carthage and antiquities. Instead, he was simple and natural,
and she liked him very much; and the little devil that enters into
every woman about the age of sixteen and is not often cast out before
fifty, even by prayer and fasting, suddenly possessed her.
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