"Oh, shut up! I'm off to-morrow. Can I do anything for you?"
"Take me with you!"
A shepherd, who had been drinking a cup of brandy, came out and pinched the girl as he passed.
"Sas manas siccas (wither your hands), skinned hare!" cried Agata. She beckoned Anania into the tavern, and asked what he would drink.
"Nothing. Good-bye! good-bye."
However, she fetched white wine, and, as he drank, leaned languidly against the bar watching him. She said, "I'm going to Cagliari as soon as I've bought a new dress with gold buttons for the chemisette. I'll go to Cagliari and get a place. We shall meet again. The devil! Here comes Antonino! he's my sweetheart, and is mad jealous of you. Ah, my jewel, good-bye! good-bye!"
Saying this she flung herself upon him with a wild cat spring and kissed him hotly on the lips. Then she pushed him away, and he went out, confounded and agitated, hurrying past Antonino whose look of hate he now understood. For some minutes he walked not knowing whither. He was new to kisses, and could only think of Margherita, the longing to see her making his blood boil.
"Oh!" he cried suddenly finding himself in the arms of another woman.
"Child of my heart!" cried Nanna, crying and laughing, and offering him a parcel, "are you really going? God go with you and bless you as he blesses the ears of corn. We shall see you again, but meantime—here take this, my darling. Don't refuse or I shall die of grief."
To prevent Nanna's death he accepted the parcel, but shuddered, feeling something very unpleasant on his cheek.