"Forget it, too, Yanni, and tell me it will make no change between us, for, in truth, I do not know what I said." "There, there," said Yanni, soothingly. "The thing is not, it never has been." The hours went on slowly and silently. Mitsos said nothing, but lay in the veranda like some suffering animal that has crept away to die alone of a mortal wound, and Yanni was wise enough to leave him quite to himself, for his struggle was one that had to be wrestled out alone without help or sympathy from others. But gradually and very slowly the mist of irresolution passed away from Mitsos' brain, and he felt that he would decide one way or the other. Meantime the sun had sunk to its setting, and Yanni prepared food and took some with wine out to Mitsos. "Eat, drink," he said. "You have not eaten since morning." "I am not hungry," said Mitsos, listlessly. For answer Yanni took up the glass of wine and held it to him. "Drink it quickly, Mitsos; you are faint for something," he said, "and then I will take it and fill it again." Mitsos obeyed like a sick child, and Yanni took the glass and brought it back full. This time he waited a moment, and then said: "You must make up your mind, Mitsos. If you settle to do nothing, tell me, and I must think for myself." Mitsos nodded. "I will come in in half an hour and tell you," he said. "That will be time enough. Please leave me alone again, Yanni; it is better so." Yanni went back into the house. His warm-hearted nature, and his intense love for Mitsos, made him suffer to the complement of his capacity of suffering. He would willingly have changed places with Mitsos had it been possible, for he felt he could not suffer more, but so the other would suffer less. Oh, poor Mitsos, whose strength and habit of laughter availed him nothing! It was less than half an hour later when Mitsos came in. His face was drawn and white, and he felt deadly tired. He did not look at Yanni, but merely stood in the doorway, his eyes cast down. "Come, Yanni," he said, "it is time we should start. Where are the cans of turpentine and the wood?" "In the boat; I put them there." Mitsos looked up at him sharply. "So you meant to do it yourself if I did not?" "I meant to try."