Annalisa remained silent, for she could have continued her usual coaxing or spoken oddities to compel Ansel to acquiesce, but she did not.
A mother stood there, silently gazing at her son for a long while, then spoke softly: "Very well, Ans, go and rest... However, might you lend me little Ziegler for a moment?"
"As you wish."
Ansel lowered his head slightly, without hesitation, and turned to depart, leaving Ravenna momentarily bewildered.
"He's still the same... What could be the matter?"
Annalisa, with a sideward tilt of her face, sighed softly: "Ans is troubled by something, and I am utterly unaware. Little Ziegler, do you think... Am I, as a mother, greatly remiss?"
"Madam, sorry, I...,"
"Oh, I'm sorry, asking you such a question would be difficult for you. I forgot."
