And he understood well that there must be an end to it some day, and every evening he said to himself, "I will not get up to-night"; but when the clock struck twelve, at the moment when he should have vigorously reaffirmed his resolution, he felt remorse: it seemed to him, that by remaining in bed he should be failing in a duty, and robbing his father and the family of a lira. And he rose, thinking that some night his father would wake up and discover him, or that he would discover the deception by accident, by counting the wrappers twice; and then all would come to a natural end, without any act of his will, which he did not feel the courage to exert. And thus he went on.

他自己也知道非停止做夜工不可，每夜就睡的时候，常自己对自己说：“从今夜起，真是不再夜半起来了。”可是，一到了十二点钟，以前的决心不觉忽然宽懈，好像睡着不起，就是逃避自己的义务，偷用了家里的两角钱了，于是熬不住了仍旧起来。他以为父亲总有一日会起来看见他，或者在数纸的时候偶然发觉他的作为。到了那时，自己虽不申明，父亲自然会知道的。这样一想，他仍继续夜夜工作。

But one evening at dinner his father spoke a word which was decisive so far as he was concerned. His mother looked at him, and as it seemed to her that he was more ill and weak than usual, she said to him, "Giulio, you are ill." And then, turning to his father with anxiety: "Giulio is ill. See how pale he is Giulio, my dear, how do you feel?"

有一天晚餐的时候，母亲觉得叙利亚的脸色比平常更不好了，说：“叙利亚！你不是不舒服吧？”说着又向着丈夫：“叙利亚不知怎么了，你看看他脸色青得——叙利亚！你怎么啦？”

His father gave a hasty glance, and said: "It is his bad conscience that produces his bad health. He was not thus when he was a studious scholar and a loving son."

父亲把眼向叙利亚一瞟：“即使有病也是他自作自受。以前用功的时候，他并不如此的。”

"But he is ill!" exclaimed the mother.

“但是，你！这不是因为他有病的缘故吗？”

"I don't care anything about him any longer!" replied the father.

父亲听母亲这样说，回答说：“我早已不管他了！”

This remark was like a stab in the heart to the poor boy. Ah! he cared nothing any more. His father, who once trembled at the mere sound of a cough from him! He no longer loved him; there was no longer any doubt; he was dead in his father's heart. "Ah, no! my father," said the boy to himself, his heart oppressed with anguish, "now all is over indeed; I cannot live without your affection; I must have it all back. I will tell you all; I will deceive you no longer. I will study as of old, come what will, if you will only love me once more, my poor father! Oh, this time I am quite sure of my resolution!"

叙利亚听了心如刀割。父亲竟不管他了！那个他偶一咳嗽就忧虑得了不得的父亲！父亲确实不爱他了，眼中已没有他这个人了！“啊！父亲！我没有你的爱是不能生活的！——无论如何，请你不要如此说，我一一说了出来吧，不再欺瞒你了。只要你再爱我，无论怎样，我一定像从前一样地用功。啊！这次真下决心了！”