was a child--the fairest creature of God's that until that hour I had
beheld, whose companionship seemed to me a thing sweet and desirable, and
whom I felt that I might love as I had loved Falcone. Her too they would
drive forth, and with a brutality and cruelty that revolted me.

Later I was to perceive the reasons better, and much food for reflection
was I to derive from realizing that there are no spirits so vengeful, so
fierce, so utterly intolerant, ungovernable, and feral as the spirits of
the devout when they conceive themselves justified to anger.

All the sweet teaching of Charity and brotherly love and patience is
jettisoned, and by the most amazing paradox that Christianity has ever
known, Catholic burns heretic, and heretic butchers Catholic, all for the
love of Christ; and each glories devoutly in the deed, never heeding the
blasphemy of his belief that thus he obeys the sweet and gentle mandates of
the God Incarnate.

Thus, then, my mother now, commanding that hideous deed with a mind at
peace in pharisaic self-righteousness.

But not again would I stand by as I had stood by in the case of Falcone,
and let her cruel, pietistic will be done. I had grown since then, and I
had ripened more than I was aware. It remained for this moment to reveal
to me the extent. Besides, the subtle influence of sex--all unconscious of
it as I was--stirred me now to prove my new-found manhood.

"Stay!" I said to Giojoso, and in uttering the command I grew very cold and
steady, and my breathing resumed the normal.

He checked in the act of turning away to do my mother's hideous bidding.