And they remained speechless, each in the presence of the other. For some minutes she seemed again to be suffocating, craning her throat and throwing back her head to get breath; then she once more mastered herself and went on:
“It is true, my child. Why lie about it? It is true. You would not believe me if I denied it.”
She looked like a crazy creature. Overcome by alarm, he fell on his knees by the bedside, murmuring:
“Hush, mother, be silent.” She stood up with terrible determination and energy.
“I have nothing more to say, my child. Good-bye.” And she went towards the door.
He threw his arms about her exclaiming:
“What are you doing, mother; where are you going?”
“I do not know. How should I know—There is nothing left for me to do, now that I am alone.”
She struggled to be released. Holding her firmly, he could find only words to say again and again:
“Mother, mother, mother!” And through all her efforts to free herself she was saying: