But she continued to scream; it was a frightful scene; a terrible cough shook her frame, which since her confinement had grown even more fragile; I was deceived after all, and sent for the doctor.
He came, examined her heart, felt her pulse, and surlily turned to go; I stopped him on the threshold.
"Well?"
"H'm! nothing at all," he answered, putting on his overcoat.
"Nothing?... But...."
"Nothing whatever.... You ought to know women.... Good day!"
If I had only known then what I know now, if I had known the secret, the remedy for hysteria which I have discovered since! But the only thing which occurred to me at the time was to kiss her eyes and ask her pardon. And that was what I did. She pressed me to her heart, called me her sensible child who should take care of her because she was very delicate, very weak, and would die one day if her little boy had not the sense to avoid scenes.
To make her quite happy I took her dog upon my knees and stroked its back; and for the next half hour I was rewarded with looks full of the tenderest affection and gratitude.
From that day the dog was allowed to do exactly as it liked, and it dirtied the place without shame or restraint. Sometimes it seemed to me that it did it out of revenge. But I controlled my temper.
I waited for a favourable opportunity, for the happy chance which would deliver me from the torture of a life spent in an unclean home....