"If I am not required, I will go."
"Go, Federico; I will come down very soon. Thanks."
I glanced after him as he withdrew, and once more the sight of my good brother inspired in me a feeling of confidence; again I felt my heart dilate.
Almost three minutes passed. The clock on the wall facing me ticked off the time with the beats of its pendulum. The hands pointed to a quarter to eleven. As I rose impatiently to go toward Juliana's room, my mother entered, agitated, and said in a low voice:
"She is quieter now. What she must have is rest. Poor child!"
"May I go in?"
"Yes; but don't disturb her."
As I made a motion to go cut, my mother recalled me.
"Tullio!"
"What, mother?"