"Take me far away, very far away! Take me to your house. Take me, even if you can't feed me. Being with you I shan't mind dying."
The count pressed her to his heart and covered her with kisses.
"Yes, yes, you are going to my house," he exclaimed, whilst tears bathed his cheeks. "You shall never leave it, because they would have to take my life before they should take you. Listen, Josefina, I am going to tell you something. Try and understand. Make an effort and you will do so. I am your father. The Señores de Quiñones took you into their house; but I am your father. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Luis, I understand you."
"They took you in because I was wrong enough to give you up to them instead of keeping you with me."
"Now I understand you, Luis. You were not wrong. You were good, and I love you."
"Yes, child of my soul, I love you more than my life. Forgive me."
"I love you too—but not them. I loved godmother once, but not now. She has beaten me so much. If you could but know! She bit me, she scratched me, she dragged me on the ground, she told Concha to beat me with a broom, she tied me with a string like a dog."
"Don't, don't, you kill me!" said Luis, sobbing.
"Don't cry, Luis, don't cry! See how kind you are; you are crying for me."