, and again and
again I was tempted to stab myself with this knife. If some one had
come under my hands, I don't know---- And I don't want to go away,
either; and I must stay here; and I must have you."

"Yes; I wish you had; but we can't live on the old Emperor's exchequer.
I know somebody who could help us, and _I_ could make him."

"Never tell me about him: he's nothing to you, and shall be nothing. I
won't have it: you are your father's child, and if anybody says any
thing else I'll stick him like an eight-day calf. My father has half
emptied my pockets already, but I've got some money yet: I mean to stay
here a while and work under my father's right as a master-butcher. I
want to show these Nordstetters what Florian can do: they shall have
respect for me, they shall."

"You're a fine fellow," said Crescence. "Haven't you brought me any
thing?"

"Yes, I have. Here."

Taking from his pocket a broad ring of silver, and a flaming heart in
colors, with a motto in it, he handed them to Crescence.

After the first expressions of delight, she offered to read the motto;
but Florian stopped her, saying, "You can do that after I am gone: now
let's have a talk."

"Yes; tell me something. Is it true that you are courting your master's
daughter in Strasbourg?"

"Not a bit of it. If I was, I wouldn't stay here; and stay I shall. All
the Nordstetters must say that the like of Florian's not to be seen
anywhere."

They remained long together. When Crescence returned home, she found
the geometer waiting for her, and was forced to receive him with
smiles. With a heavy heart she reached her chamber at last, and read
the motto on the flaming heart:--

"Better build my grave of stone
Than love and call you not my own."

Weeping, she laid the picture into her hymn-book. It was the old story
of what occurs in thousands of instances, in town and country, though
often the colors are more blended and the contrasts not so harsh.
Crescence loved Florian, and yet could not renounce the hope of a good
establishment, such as she might expect to receive at the hands of the
geometer: love drew her in one direction, interest in another. It would
be strange if such discords did not lead to misery.

5.
FLORIAN DROPS A BUTTON OR TWO.

Florian remained in the village, and slaughtered first one heifer and
then another. Though at first things looked prosper