well, I know that; but the child might die of home-sickness."

"I'll ask him," said Peter Mike, leaving the parents more astonished
than ever; for habitual poverty deprives people of the power of forming
resolutions, and makes them surprised to find this faculty in others.
Neither spoke: they dreaded the forthcoming answer, whatever it might
be.

Peter Mike returned, leading Freddie by the hand. He nodded
significantly, and Freddie cried, "Yes, I'll stay with cousin: he's
going to give me a whip and a horse."

Crescence wept; but Florian said, "Well, then, let's go; what must be,
the sooner it's done the better."

He went down-stairs, packed the cart, and hitched the dog. Peter Mike
brought him the money.

When all was ready, Crescence kissed her son once more, and said,
weeping, "Be a good boy, and mind your cousin: go to school and learn
your lessons. Perhaps we shall come back in winter."

Florian turned his head away when his son took his hand, and tightened
the strap by which he pulled the cart. Freddie put his arms round the
dog's head and took leave of him.

[Illustration: Florian pushed the glass over to Crescence.]

Not a word was spoken until they reached Kochersteinfeld: each mentally
upbraided the other for having made so little opposition. Here they
rested, and Florian called for a pint of wine to cheer their spirits.
Taking a long draught, he pushed the glass over to Crescence, bidding
her do the same. She raised the glass to her lips, but set it down
again and cried, weeping aloud, "I can't drink: it seems as if I had to
drink the blood of my darling Freddie."

"Don't get up such a woman's fuss now: you ought to 've said that
before. Let's sleep over it: we shall feel better tomorrow."

As if to escape from their own thoughts, they never stopped till they
got to Kuenzelsau. On the way they held counsel as to the best
investment of their money, and agreed to act upon the advice of Peter
Mike.

Next day they set out for Oehringen; but suddenly Florian stopped and
said, "Crescence, what do you say to turning round and going back for
Freddie?"

"Yes, yes, yes! come."

In a moment the cart was headed the other way, and the dog leaped up
Florian's side, as if he knew what was going on. But suddenly Crescence
cried, "Oh, mercy, mercy! He'll never let us have him: there's a whole
florin gone,--the night's lodging; and I've bought Lizzie a dress!"

"O women and vanity!" groaned Florian. "Well, w