The thought filled him with deep compassion for her, and he said softly: “Come, Cornelli! It is terribly sad that you have no mother, but you must not think that therefore you are all alone and nobody wants to help you. I’ll be your friend and I’ll help you, but you must tell me what troubles you. I do not understand from what you have said. Please explain it all to me.” “No, I can’t do that, I can’t tell anyone,” Cornelli said between her sobs. “Oh, yes, you can. Don’t cry any more and I’ll help you. I can surely find a way. Please tell me.” Dino took Cornelli’s hand and gently pulled it away from her eyes. “No, no, I can’t,” she said timidly. “Oh, yes, you can. First of all, we’ll push your hair away. It is all sticking to your forehead and your eyes; you can hardly see.” Dino pushed the hair away as much as he was able; but it was still hanging down and sticking fast. “Oh, now you’ll see it, and then you’ll make a great noise, I know,” Cornelli exclaimed desperately. “I do not see anything except that you look a thousand times better that way than with these thick, drooping fringes all over your face,” said Dino. “No, let them be! I know exactly how it is,” cried Cornelli, making an effort to push her hair back again. “Only you won’t say it, because you want to be my friend. But I know it and everybody can see it and hate me.” “But Cornelli, why are you crying?” said Dino, full of astonishment. “I don’t know what you mean and I am sure you are imagining something. You must be, for one often does.” “No, I’m not, and there are people who can see it. You must not think that I imagine something, Dino; otherwise I would not be so frightened that I often cannot go to sleep for a long, long while. I have to think and think all the time. I know that it will get worse and worse and that I won’t be able to cover it up in the end. Then there won’t be a single person in the world who does not hate me when he looks at me. You, too, will hate me then, I know.” “I swear to you right now that I shall not hate you, whatever should appear,” Dino exclaimed enthusiastically. “Just tell me for once and all what you mean. Please do it, for I might be able to help you and give you some advice. Just tell me, for you know now that I will remain your friend in spite of everything that might turn up.” Cornelli still hesitated. “But will you still be my friend later on, when everything is still more changed and nobody else will be my friend?” she asked persistently. “Yes, I promise; and here is my hand!” said Dino, giving the little girl a hearty handshake. “You can see that I really mean it, for what one has promised that way, one can never take back. Now you can be sure that I shall always be your friend.” Cornelli’s face lit up with joy. It was obviously a great comfort to her to have a friend who would remain so for all time.