That was the last time your mother came to church.

In a short time afterwards you were born, and during the intervening time I struggled harder than ever, not to forgive, but to drop my wife entirely out of my life.

I tried to ignore her presence, to forget that she had ever been dear to me; but I give you my word, Cardo, I _never_ spoke a harsh or accusing word to her.

I simply dropped her as far as possible out of my life; and she, though growing paler and thinner each day, still held her head up proudly; and while I seemed to ignore her presence--though, God knows, not a look nor a movement escaped me--Lewis was incessant in his tender attention to her.
"I had loved my brother passionately, fondly, and the feeling of bitter hatred which now took possession of me tore my very heart-strings, for, in spite of my suspicious and jealous nature, I loved these two--my wife and my brother--with an intensity few would have believed me capable of.

Have I made this plain to you, Cardo?
At last one evening, just at this time of the year, and at this hour of the day, Betto brought you to me in her arms.