ed as suddenly as it came.
A confused mass of gray and black clouds swept rapidly across the sky
and at the zenith three golden stars were visible in a line, so that
they looked like a flying spear darting through the clouds. The lawyer
gazed thoughtfully for some moments at the flying spear while his mind
struggled with some dim idea. Then he hurried with short shuffling
steps as quietly as possible along the sandy paths of the asylum
gardens.

"Hush, keep still!" he whispered, as he passed some bushes in which
something was stirring.

At the edge of the kitchen-garden there was an old well with a pump
which was no longer used, and here the lawyer began his task. He put
the watering-pot under the spout and began to pump, trying to make no
noise. As there was but little water in the well and the lawyer pumped
slowly and cautiously, it took him half an hour to fill the pot. Then,
panting and coughing, the little man carried it to the garden beds, and
began to water the flowers, smiling happily and speaking lovingly to
them meanwhile. "Don't be in such a hurry, little ones," he whispered,
"my dear children, how you drink! Good morning!"

But just then began a great fluttering and stirring in an elder bush.
Hundreds of little birds suddenly thrust their heads out between the
leaves and chirped to the lawyer.

He made a startled gesture. "For heaven's sake, be quiet!" said he.
"You are always trying to be the first! Every morning. Hush!" And
immediately silence reigned in the elder bush.

The lawyer went quietly from bed to bed and watered his flowers. He
stopped frequently to draw a deep breath and gazed up at the sky, where
the motionless golden spear still seemed to be darting through the
clouds. He pondered for some time over that and shook his head. From
the "violent ward" came a longdrawn wailing, which at regular intervals
was merged in pitiful weeping. But the lawyer paid no attention to
these sounds. He only heard the birds fluttering their wings and
whetting their beaks in the bushes.

A night nurse passed by, shivering.

"Already at work, so early?" said she, turning her pale face toward
him.

The lawyer put down his watering-pot, bowed and took off his cap. "One
must keep at it," he whispered, "the little ones will not wait."

Then he began with the tenderest care to water the beds beside the
principal buildings. He paused by the open windows of the kitchen,
which were very low, and examined the wind