"My father has 100 _lire_ in the chest of drawers, and I know where he keeps the key. We live close here, and have some land for which we pay taxes. One day the Commissioner came and seized the barley. What's in that saucepan making that cra--cra--cra--? Don't you think it's burning? I'd better look in." (he lifted the cover) "The devil! Potatoes! I thought it was something better. I'm going to taste them!" With two fingers he hooked out a boiling lump, blew on it and ate it up. Then he took another. "What are you doing?" said Anania shocked, "if the woman comes back----" "We know how to make macaroni, my father and I," said the imperturbable youngster, "do you know? And tomato sauce----" "No, I don't know," said Anania absently. He was thinking of his mother, his mind besieged by sad questions. Where had she gone? Why hadn't she come into the mill? Why had she gone away and forgotten him? Now that he had eaten and was warm, Anania would have liked to run away. To run away and look for his mother. To run away and find his mother. This idea took firm roots and would not leave him. After a while Aunt Tatàna came back. She brought with her a ragged woman with uncertain step, a red nose, and a large hanging mouth; a horrible-looking person. "And this--this is the little bird?" she said stammering and looking lovingly at the foundling. "Let me see your little face, to bless you! By God's truth, he's as pretty as a star! And the man doesn't want him? Well Tatàna Atonzu, it's for you to pick him up--to pick him up like a sugar-plum----" She came nearer and kissed Anania. He turned away, for she smelt of drink. "Aunt Nanna," said the incorrigible Bustianeddu, pretending to drain a glass, "have you had enough for to-day?" "Eh? Eh? What? What do you mean? What are you doing here, you little fly, you p--poor little orphan? Go home to your b--bed." "You'd better go to bed yourself," said Aunt Tatàna, "take yourselves off, both of you." She gave the woman a gentle push, but before going away Nanna begged for a drop of something. Bustianeddu offered her water; she snatched at the glass eagerly, but after one sip shook her head and set it down. Then she moved unsteadily away. Aunt Tatàna sent Bustianeddu after her, and shut the door. "You are tired, my pet," she said to Anania, "come, I will put you to bed." She took him to a big room behind the kitchen and undressed him, coaxing him with sweet words.