And he repeated: "Mother, mother, listen to me.

It is not true.

I know that it is not true." A spasm seemed to come over her, a fit of suffocation; then she suddenly began to sob into the pillow.

Her sinews relaxed, her rigid muscles yielded, her fingers gave way and left go of the linen; and he uncovered her face.
She was pale, quite colourless; and from under her closed lids tears were stealing.

He threw his arms round her neck and kissed her eyes, slowly, with long heart-broken kisses, wet with her tears; and he said again and again: "Mother, my dear mother, I know it is not true.