"Why do you wish me to be here? Leave me to myself. As once I did you harm, so now suffer me to do you good. Let me go. I don't wish to be an impediment to you. Let me go--for your good." "No!" he repeated. "Let me go. I implore you. I'm still able to work for myself. You shall hear no more of me. I will vanish as a leaf down the wind----" He turned round on himself. An insidious, a terrible temptation overtook him. _Let her go_! For a short moment wild joy shone in his soul. He might consider it all as an evil dream; one word and the dream would vanish and the sweet reality would be restored! But suddenly he was ashamed of the thought. His wrath flamed up again, his voice echoed through the gloomy kitchen. "No!" "You are a wild beast!" murmured Olì, "you are not a Christian. You are a wild animal which devours its own flesh. Let me go, child of God! Let me go!" "I will not." Olì fell back silent and seemingly vanquished; but Aunt Grathia spoke-- "Yes, indeed, a wild beast! What's the need to shout like that? _No! no! no_! If any one were to hear you, he'd think there was a wild bull shut up here. Are these the manners you learned at school?" "Yes, at my school; and I learned other things too," he said, lowering his voice however. "I learned that a man must not acquiesce in disgrace, even at cost of his own life. But I suppose you can't understand! Well, let us cut it short, and be silent both of you." "Can't understand? I understand perfectly," protested the old woman. "_Nonna_! yes, you understand. Remember----But there--that'll do!" he cried, wringing his hands, worn out, sickened by himself and every one. He had been struck by the old woman's words, and now returned to himself, remembering that he had always prided himself on his superiority. His wish now was to end this painful and vulgar scene. He threw himself on a seat in the corner of the kitchen dropping his head in his hands. "I've said No, and that's enough," he thought; and said brokenly, "Have done now. Have done." But Olì perceived that now was the moment to fight on. She was not afraid, she dared anything. "Listen," she cried humbly, "why do you wish to ruin yourself, _my son_?" (Yes she had courage to say "my son," nor did Anania protest.) "I know all. You are to marry a girl who is beautiful, who is rich, and if she knows that you haven't cast me off, you'll lose her. She'll be quite right, for a rose can't be mixed up with dirt. For her sake, let me go. Let her believe I am dead. She's an innocent soul, why is she to suffer? I'll go ever so far away. I'll change my name. I'll disappear, carried away by the wind. The evil I have done you without intention is enough. Yes, without intention! My son, I don't want to hurt you again. No, I don't. Ah! how can a mother wish evil to her son? Let me go!"