will never pay the debt it owes you. If the
blessing of a dying woman can shed a brightness over your future, take
it with you on your way."

Anton rose.

"We shall not meet again," said the invalid; "this is our final
leave-taking. Farewell, Wohlfart! this is the last time I shall see you
on earth." She held out her hand. He bent over it, and, deeply moved,
quitted the room.

Yes, she deserved to be called a noble lady. Her nature was noble, her
insight into the character of others clear, and her mode of recompensing
Anton's zeal dignified--very dignified. In her eyes, at least, he had
always worn a powdered wig and silver knee-buckles.

In the evening Fink's step was heard in the corridor, and, entering
Anton's room, he cried, "Halloo, Anton, what's up now? John slinks about
as if he had broken the great china vase; and when old Barbette saw me,
she began to wring her hands."

"I must leave this house, my friend," returned Anton, gloomily. "I have
had a painful scene with the baron to-day." He then proceeded to relate
it, and concluded by saying, "The position of this family was never so
desperate as now. They need the command of twenty thousand dollars to
avert new misfortunes."

Fink threw himself into a chair. "First of all," said he, "I hope you
availed yourself as little as possible of this fine opportunity of being
angry. We won't waste words over the scene; the baron is not
accountable; and between ourselves, I am not surprised. I have seen all
summer that you could not retain your romantic connection with this
family. On the other hand, it is plain that you are indispensable as
father-confessor to the ladies, and confidential man of business to all
the people around. And I need not tell you that your sudden departure
cuts up many a plan of mine. But now for the question, What will you
do?"

"I shall return as soon as possible to our own capital," replied Anton.
"There I shall be engaged for some time in the interest of the
Rothsattels. My official relations to them cease from this very day, and
as soon as the baron's family estate is sold, I shall consider my moral
obligations to them canceled."

"Good!" said Fink; "that's all right. If you ever set pen to paper again
on their behalf, it can only be from a sense of compassion. Another
point is that Rothsattel has brought a curse upon himself by his folly,
for without you things can't go on as they do for another month. Now,
then, Master Anton, come