One morning, being left alone with him a few minutes in the parlour, I ventured to approach the window-recess--which his table, chair, and desk consecrated as a kind of study--and I was going to speak, though not very well knowing in what words to frame my inquiry--for it is at all times difficult to break the ice of reserve glassing over such natures as his--when he saved me the trouble by being the first to commence a dialogue.
Una mattina, essendo rimasta sola con lui per pochi minuti in salotto, mi arrischiai ad avvicinarmi al vano della finestra, dove aveva messo la sua tavola da scrivere, e stavo per parlargli, benché fossi molto impacciata di rivolgergli la parola, perché è sempre difficile di rompere la glaciale riserva di certe nature.