Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/87

 had the courage, under similar circumstances, to do your duty,—to go and confess your fault?”

I told him that I should. And he said, “Give me your word, as a lad of heart and honor, that you would do it.”

“I give you my word, father!”

Saturday, 17th.

To-day Garoffi stood in fear and dread of a severe punishment from the teacher; but the master did not appear; and as the assistant was also missing, Signora Cromi, the oldest of the schoolmistresses, came to teach the school. She has two grown-up children, and she has taught several women to read and write, who now come with their sons to the Baretti schoolhouse.

She was sad to-day, because one of her sons is ill. No sooner had the boys caught sight of her, than they began to make an uproar. But she said, in a slow and calm tone, “Respect my white hair; I am not only a school-teacher, I am also a mother”; and then no one dared to speak again, in spite of that brazen face of Franti, who contented himself with jeering at her on the sly.

Signora Delcati, my brother's teacher, was sent to take charge of Signora Cromi's class, and to Signora Delcati's was sent the teacher who is called the little nun, because she always dresses in dark colors, with a black apron, and has a small white face, hair that is always smooth, very bright eyes, and a delicate voice,