It indicated the desperateness of her
resolve, that now she broke into this cherished fund, drawing barely
enough money to take her back to Capri. She was going away for Nino's
sake she argued with herself, and that justified even this.
All through the day she busied herself with preparations for departure.
She would take nothing but the barest necessities; only that the hand-
satchel into which she compressed her few belongings held Nino's first
baby socks, a lock of his hair, his picture, a broken toy, and other
dear trifles, each of which she packed wet with tears and covered with
kisses.
Late in the afternoon she took Nino into her chamber alone to bid him
good-by. Her limbs failed her as the door closed and he stood looking
at her in innocent wonder. She sank into a chair, faint and trembling,
soul and body rent with an intolerable anguish so great that for a
moment she wondered if she were not dying.
"What is the matter, mamma?" Nino cried out in his musical Italian,
running across the room to stand by her knee.
He took one of her hands in his, stroking it softly and looking up into
her face with pity and wonder.
"I am going away, Nino," she said, speaking with a mighty effort. "You
must be a good boy and always mind and love papa. And, oh!" she cried,
her self-control breaking down, "love me too, Nino; love me, love me.
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