"I wish she would stay sick for a while--of course not awfully sick," he corrected himself rapidly, "I mean just sick enough so that your mother would not let her go.

I know quite well how happy Leonore will be with her.

She was so kind and friendly with us right away.

Since our old aunt died nobody has been so good and sweet with us as your mother and that will do more good to Leonore than anything else on earth." Salo's words made a deep impression on Bruno.

He had never before realized that everyone did not have a lovely home like his, and a mother besides who was always ready to greet him affectionately, who could be told everything, could help him bear everything, who shared all his experiences and had a sympathy like no one else.