"I'm going away!" shouted Anania. "I'm going to Cagliari to college."
"Going to sea? Oh yes, there's sea at Cagliari. God bless you, my lad. Old Uncle Pera has nothing to give you but his prayers."
Anania repented his frequent mockery of the old man, who at any rate was kind to Rebecca. He bent down, his hands on his knees. "Have you any commissions?"
The old man sat up, stared, then smiled.
"Commissions? I? But I'm going away myself very soon."
"You?" said the boy, amused at the mania all men, even decrepit ones, have for going away.
"Yes, I'm starting too."
"For what place. Uncle Pera?"
"Ah, for a distant one," said the old man, pointing to the horizon; "for eternity."
Not till evening, nor till he had passed and repassed vainly before Margherita's window did Anania knock and ask for his godfather.