er's, I will take him away from you. To-morrow, or the day
after, I shall come to see him myself, and I shall make inquiries of
the neighbours."

"What! You would disgrace me and my daughter by taking him away? You
try it! we shall then see who is the strongest."

And the insolent, vulgar woman set her arms akimbo, as she whined out--

"This is what one gets for defending great folks."

"It has cost you no sacrifices, Mrs. Jool; for you have simply tried
to make money out of your daughter's misfortune."

"And he must have shoes and socks, or else he will have to run about
bare-legged in clogs like a peasant's child."

"I will provide them, Mrs. Jool; and now I have heard enough. This
is the path which leads to the village."

"What a hurry you're in!"

"These are private grounds; do you understand that? Now take yourself
off, or----"

"Marry come up! how anxious you are to get rid of me. Well, well,
I am going. Otherwise I am afraid this dandy will play the policeman
for her." And so she limped off along the path indicated, mumbling
all the way.

Francis then turned to me and said--

"Well, Leopold, this incident will serve to enlighten you; behold a
power opposed to my freedom and happiness."

"I understand," I answered, trying to assume a calmness I did not
possess; "I understand, Francis--you are too honest to bind any man
to you for life, saddled as you are with such a burden. But why did
you not confide this terrible secret to me sooner? I will attempt
the impossible to save you!"

"But, Leopold, what are you thinking of?" she responded, quite red
with emotion; "you surely do not suspect me of anything unworthy? You
comprehend that my honour is not herein concerned, though I must
suffer for the deplorable consequences of the fault I committed."

"I am listening, Francis; but, excuse me, I do not rightly understand
you. Is this not a question of a child which you are obliged to
maintain?"

"Yes, certainly; and that's not the heaviest part of the burden. I
have also to maintain the mother."

"Francis!" I exclaimed, in a transport of joy and relief.

"Now it is my turn to say I don't understand you," she rejoined,
regarding me with an adorable simplicity. "Do you think it a light
charge for me, in my position, to bring up a child, and provide for
its mother whom I have sent to a private asylum?"

I thanked Heaven from the bottom of my heart that she, in her
innocency, did not suspect the conclus