"That I well believe, Paula; but how can that help me? He can give me no part of his knowledge, even if he were so kind as to wish it." "True, he cannot do that; you must work yourself; but how to work the best, and how to succeed the soonest, he knows, and will tell you if you ask him. Will you?" "Yes, I will; but----" "No--no 'buts.' I am not to say 'if,' so you must not say 'but.' Will you?" "Yes." As to utter this "yes" required some determination on my part, I spoke it in a firm loud voice. Paula folded her hands and bent her head, as if she were inwardly praying that my resolution might be blessed. Everything was calm around; only a bird twittered, and the red sunset-rays glanced through the twigs. It may have been a remnant of weakness which still clung to me, but a strange and solemn feeling possessed me. It was as though I were in a temple, and had just pronounced a solemn vow by which I broke away from my entire past, and devoted myself to a new life and to new obligations. And while thus thinking I gazed with fixed eyes at the dear maiden, who sat still, her hands folded, her thoughtful head bent--gazed until the tears came into my eyes, and trees, sunlight, and maiden were lost behind a misty veil. At this moment clear voices came ringing from the garden; it was Paula's brothers, who had finished their task in the house, and now were joyously hurrying to their favorite spot where they were certain of finding their sister. Paula gathered up her drawing materials, and was spreading a sheet of tissue-paper over her drawing, when the boys came bounding up the hill at full speed to us. "I am first!" cried little Oscar, springing into his sister's arms. "Because we let you," said Kurt, jumping upon my knee. "Let's see, Paula," said Benno, laying his hand upon his sister's arm. Paula threw back the tissue-paper. Benno looked attentively at the drawing, and then carefully compared it with the original. Kurt jumped down from my knee to examine his sister's work too. Even Oscar stuck his curly head from under her arm to see what was going on. It was a charming group, the three boys clustered around the sister, now turning their bright eyes upon me, and then fixing them on the picture. "That is Uncle Doctor!" said Oscar. Paula smiled and gently stroked the pretty boy's blond curls. "You are silly," said Kurt; "he wears spectacles." "It is well done, Paula," said Benno, with the air of a connoisseur. "Do you think so?" she asked. "Yes; only he is not so good-looking." "Now you have all seen it," said Paula, in a tone of decision. "Benno, carry it into the Belvedere." "I will carry it!" said Kurt. "No, I!" cried Oscar. "Have you not heard that I am to carry it?" said Benno. "You are too little." "O yes, you are the big one!" said Kurt, scornfully. "Hush, hush!" said Paula. "No disputes about it. He who is older is bigger, and cannot help it; and he who is younger is smaller, and cannot help it either."