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284 228 . the miracles of antichrist
" When we came here to get the child," said the
latter, " we did not find it. Marcia was dressed in black,
and her room was dressed in black, and a whole lot
of women sat mourning with her. And she showed
us the child’s certificate of death. Then we went and
told Ninetta that her child was in the churchyard.
" Well, a little later I was on duty here in the
marketplace. I watched the children at play there. Who
was strongest and who screamed the loudest, if not
one of the girls ? 4 What is your name ? ’ I asked
her—’ Francesco,’ she answered immediately.
"The idea struck me, that this girl Francesco might
be Ninetta’s boy, and I stood still and waited. A
minute ago I saw Francesco go into Marcia’s house.
I went there and by the table sat the girl Francesco
eating her supper. Marcia and all the mourners
began to scream when I came. I then seized Signorina
Francesco and ran. ’ For the child is not Marcia’s.
Understand that, signori! It is Ninetta’s. Marcia
has no right to it."
Then Marcia finally began to speak. She spoke
in a deep voice, which compelled attention, and she
made few, but noble gestures. Had she no right to
the child? Who had fed and clothed it? It would
have been dead a thousand times, had it not been for
her. Ninetta had left it with La Felucca. They knew
La Felucca. To leave one’s child with her was the
same as to say to it: " Thou shalt die." And besides
right, right! What did that mean ? The one whom
the child loved had a right to him. The one who
loved the child had a right to him. Piero and she
loved the boy as their own son. They could not part
with him.
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