ould speak, what was
pressing so heavily on the heart of poor Ivo.

The afternoon studies were easier, being in German, and so conducted
that Ivo could put in a word or two of his own now and then. In going
home he joined the two other boys from his village,--Johnny's
Constantine and Hansgeorge's Peter. Constantine said that it was the
rule for the youngest student always to carry the books for the others;
and Ivo took the double burden on himself without a murmur.

At the top of the hill they saw Mother Christina, who had come to meet
her son. He was relieved of the books immediately. Ivo joyfully ran to
meet his mother, but, suddenly checked himself, for he was ashamed to
kiss her in the presence of the big boys, and even winced a little at
her caresses.

With their caps on one side, and their books under their arms, the two
elder students paraded the village.

Ivo had as much to tell at home as if he had crossed the sea. He also
felt his own importance when he found that they had cooked and set the
table expressly for him. Even Mag, who seldom had a kind word for him,
was now in a better humor than usual: he came from abroad.

Thus did Ivo go to and from the grammar-school from day to day.

A great change had taken place with Brindle about this time: he no
longer spent all his time in the stable, for he had been yoked. Ivo
thought the poor beast suffered from his absence, and was often out of
spirits about it.

But in the grammar-school all things went on as well as well could be.
Ivo speedily filled up his new coat and his new position, to the
admiration of everybody.

His intercourse with Nat could not remain the same, however. Even the
detailed reports of Ivo's doings gradually ceased, as there was not
often much to be told; and Ivo generally sat down quietly to his books
as soon as he got home. With Mrs. Hankler, on the other hand, he was
soon on the best of terms. She always said that "Ivo was as good to
talk with as the oldest." She told him a great deal about her deceased
husband; and Ivo advised her financially whenever a quarter's rent came
to be paid.

With the sons of the President-Judge he kept up a friendship for which
everybody envied him. And Emmerence,--she was now nine years old, went
to school, and minded the schoolmaster's children in recess. At an age
when children rarely have any thing more than dolls to play with, she
had an exacting living baby to attend to; but she seemed to look up