And deeper my hopelessness of making her
understand what had happened.
"I not only have known her but a very short time, Lucia, but have even
only spoken to her twice, and never touched her - except her hand. And
yet ?"
"What!" said Lucia, with vehement and happy amazement. "Is it nothing
more? A spirit friendship?"
"A spirit love, I would rather say."
"With a hotel maid? I believe you, Vico; you do not lie. I know you as
a man of honor. Men have such phantasies. And ? and ?" with whispered
emphasis and wide, searching eyes: "will it remain so?"
"No, Lucia, I don't want to deceive you. It certainly will not remain
so."
Then she rose and walked about the room in violent emotion.
"Oh, but my God, Vico, what possesses you? You are contemplating the
greatest wrong, the deepest offence to me, the disgrace of your family,
the eternal ruin of your soul - you can easily turn back, nothing yet
is lost, and you don't want to! You don't want to! Is this woman a
witch then? An enchantress? Oh, now I know that you have no religion!
Now I see what it is to have no religion.
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