Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/136

 dropped his blotting-paper, as he passed Derossi. Derossi politely picked it up, put it in Votini's satchel, and helped him to buckle the straps. Votini dared not raise his eyes.

Saturday, 28th.

But Votini is stubborn. Yesterday morning, during the lesson on religion, in the presence of the principal, the teacher asked Derossi if he knew by heart the two couplets in the reading-book,—

Derossi said that he did not, and Votini suddenly exclaimed, “I know them!” with a smile, as though to pique Derossi. But he was piqued himself, instead, for he could not recite the poetry, because Franti's mother suddenly flew into the schoolroom, breathless, with her gray hair dishevelled and all wet with snow, and pushing before her her son, who had been suspended from school for a week. What a sad scene we were doomed to witness! The poor woman flung herself almost on her knees before the principal, with clasped hands, and besought him:—

“Oh, Signor Director, do me the favor to put my boy back in school! He has been at home for three days. I have kept him hidden; but God have mercy on him, if his father finds out about this affair: he will murder him! Have pity! I no longer know what to do! I entreat you with my whole soul!”