He had not seen his father since their
interview of the previous evening, and had hoped not to see him
again till the moment of leaving for Saracinesca. The old man had
understood him, and that was all that was necessary for the
present. He suspected that his father would not seek an interview
any more than he did himself. But an obstacle had presented itself
in the way of his departure which he had not expected, and which
irritated him beyond measure. Corona was ill. He did not know
whether her ailment were serious or not, but it was evident that
he could not force her to leave her bed and accompany him to the
country, so long as the doctor declared that she could not be
moved. When Spicca was gone, he did not know what to do with
himself. He would not go and see his wife, for any meeting must be
most unpleasant. He had nerved himself to conduct her to the
mountains, and had expected that the long drive would be passed in
a disagreeable silence. So long as Corona was well and strong, he
could have succeeded well enough in treating her as he believed
that she deserved. Now that she was ill, he felt how impossible it
would be for him to take good care of her without seeming to
relent, even if he did not relent in earnest; and on the other
hand his really noble nature would have prevented him from being
harsh in his manner to her while she was suffering.
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