“Oh, yes, a joke, but it might cost you dear.” “Do tell me, Frank, what to do. I’ll do anything!” He examined me critically through his screwed-up eyes and laughed again. “Don’t be silly,” he said with affected affability. “You know as well as I do. I’ve got the chance of earning a couple of marks, and I’m not such a rich fellow that I can afford to throw it away, you know that well enough. But you’re rich, why, you’ve even got a watch. You need only give me just two marks and everything will be all right.” I understood his logic. But two marks! For me that was as much, and just as unobtainable, as ten, as a hundred, as a thousand marks. I had no money. There was a money box that my mother kept for me, with a couple of ten and five pfennig pieces inside which I received from my uncle when he paid us a visit, or from similar sources. I had nothing else. At that age I received no pocket-money at all. “I have nothing,” I said sadly. “I have no money at all. But I’ll give you everything I have. I’ve got a book about red Indians, and also soldiers, and a compass. I’ll get that for you.” But Kromer only screwed up his evil mouth, and spat on the ground. “Quit your jawing,” he said commandingly. “You can keep your old trash yourself. A compass! Don’t make me angry, d’you hear? And hand over the money!” “But I haven’t any. I never get money. I can’t help it.” “Very well, then, you’ll bring me the two marks in the morning. I shall wait for you in the market after school. That’s all. If you don’t bring any money, look out!” “Yes; but where shall I get it, then? Good Lord! if I haven’t any----” “There’s enough money in your house. That’s your business. To-morrow after school, then. And I tell you: If you don’t bring it----” His eyes darted a terrible look at me, he spat again and vanished like a shadow. I could not go upstairs. My life was ruined. I wondered if I should run away and never come back, or go and drown myself. But these thoughts were not clearly formulated. I sat crouched in the dark on the bottom step and I surrendered myself to my misfortune. There Lina found me in tears as she came down with a basket to get wood.