fever."

I saw how it was. Erwald was to go to Maglan to visit his sister; and
if the father could arrange for him to go with us, of course he
himself would be free to make another engagement.

"Do you feel sure that you can guide us safely?" I asked of Erwald.

"Certainly, monsieur; I have been over the way many times. If I was
not quite sure, I would not offer to go."

"Not if you could gain a good many francs by going?"

"It would not be right to say to you that I knew the way, if I did
not."

The boy's face was attractive, his voice gentle, and his blue eyes
full of tenderness. His look and his answer delighted me.

"No, it would not be right, Erwald; and because you love the right and
feel sure that you can serve us, I will take you in your father's
place."

"I am glad, very glad; and now I must see my mother. Vesta is sick and
she will be glad to see any one from home."

Erwald's face was glowing; I turned to the father.

"Erwald is a good child," he said. "At first we felt vexed with him
and Vesta for leaving the church, and not a few times did we punish