"
"But the Church?" asked Sabina anxiously. "I should not think it a
marriage at all, if I were not married in church."
"I have asked a good priest about that," answered the Signora. "I go
to confession to him, and he is a good man, and wise too. He told me
that the Church could make no objection at all, since there has really
been no marriage at all, and since Signor Malipieri will present
himself after being properly and legally married to you at the
municipality. He told me, on the contrary, that it is my duty to do
everything in my power to help you."
"God bless you!" Sabina cried. "You are the best woman in the world!"
Malipieri took the Signora's hand and pressed it to his lips
fervently, for he could not find any words.
"I shall only ask one thing," she said, speaking timidly again.
"Ask all I have," he answered, her hand still in his.
"But you may not like it. I should like to keep the name, if you do
not mind very much, on account of my little girl. She need never know.
I can leave her with a friend while we are in Switzerland."
"It is yours," he said. "Few of my own people have borne it as
worthily as you have, since I gave it to you."
* * * * * *
Here, therefore, ends the story of Sabina Conti and Marino Malipieri,
whose marriage took place quietly during the autumn, as the Princess
had confidently said that it should.
Pages:
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402