s to be a cat-doctor, and so it is no great
matter if the house does go by the board.' And what do you mean to
study with? Live on the old Kaiser's exchequer?--or do you suppose I'm
to pay? You can go to law with me and ask your motherly portion; but
I'll make up a little account against you then, to show what you've
cost me."

"I shall petition the ministry to have the indemnity to the convent
charged upon my future inheritance."

"We've had our say, and you needn't talk any more," interrupted
Valentine. "If you won't obey, only don't make yourself believe you
have a father in the world. You've been my pride till now; but, after
this, I can never look into any man's face again, and must only be glad
if people are good enough not to talk about you." The tears trickled
down his cheeks; and, pressing both his hands to his face, he
continued:--"I wish a clap of thunder had struck me into the earth
before I had lived to see this day!" He laid his head upon the
window-sill, turned his back upon them, and struck fiercely at the wall
with his foot.

Such, again, is man! Valentine had no hesitation in displaying his
grief and hatred to his son; but he had always been ashamed to show his
love and his satisfaction, and had buried them in his heart like the
memory of a crime. Do not educated and uneducated men equally resemble
him in this?

Hitherto Christina had contented herself with admonishing each party to
silence and gentleness by looks and gestures; but now she began, with a
firmer voice than her countenance might have led one to expect,--

"Ivo, dear Ivo, you were always good and pious: there never was a vein
of evil in you. I won't say that I always thought it would be a good
word for me in heaven if you were clerical: that's neither here nor
there: it is you we must consider. For the sake of Christ's blood,
examine yourself: be good, be true, and our Lord will help you and will
purify your heart of all things that should not be there. Oh, you
always had such a pious mind! You see I can't speak much: it seems to
tear out my very heart. Be good and pious again, as you always were; be
my dear, dear Ivo." She fell upon his neck and wept. Ivo answered,
embracing her,--

"Mother dear, mother dear, I cannot be a minister. Do you suppose I
would have given you all this unhappiness if I could have done
otherwise? I cannot."

"Don't say you cannot: that isn't pious. Only set your will to it, make
up your mind firmly, and