Mary stood still, astonished. "To Uncle Klaus?" Jörgen also stood still. They looked at each other now. "It will be to our interest," continued Jörgen. "With Uncle Klaus----?" Mary stared. She did not understand him. "For the sake of the family's honour he will do a great deal," said Jörgen, giving her a quick side-glance as he moved on. She had turned ghastly white, but she followed. "Must we confide in Uncle Klaus?" she whispered behind him. A lower depth of humiliation there could not be. "Yes, we'll do so!" he answered encouragingly, almost gaily. "Now he will not say 'No'!" Had this, too, entered into his calculations? He went closer to her. "If Uncle Klaus knows nothing about the American money, we shall get more--do you see?" How well he had thought it all out! In spite of her disgust, Mary was impressed. Jörgen was a cleverer man than she had taken him for. Once he had the opportunity to develop all his gifts, he would surprise many besides herself. She walked along, shrinking into herself like a leaf in too dry heat. "You will manage this with Uncle Klaus yourself?" "I shall go back with you now, as you may suppose. You need not have come. You had only to let me know." Her head was bent and she was trembling. His superiority robbed her of her strength and courage; his words sickened her. As on a previous occasion, one foot refused to plant itself in front of the other; she could follow no farther. Then she heard Jörgen call: "Come here, you little devil!" The dog again! His dirty scamp of a playfellow had once more tempted him from the path of duty. There was something peculiar about Jörgen's voice when it commanded--it was subdued and sharp at the same time. The dog recognised it, but only looked round, irresolute. Being endowed with a happy frivolity of disposition, he rushed again merrily up to his comrade and went on with the game as if nothing had been said. Mary stood learning a lesson. It was just underneath John Ericson's statue that this happened. She looked up at the statue, looked into John Ericson's kind, thoughtful eyes, until tears filled her own. She was utterly miserable. Jörgen was engrossed with the dog. The animal's education was conducted on the principle that he must never be allowed to have his own will when it conflicted with his master's. "Come here, you little rogue," said Jörgen ingratiatingly. The dog was so surprised that he stopped in the middle of his game. "Good dog! come along!" He made one or two joyful bounds in Jörgen's direction; he remembered the good times they had had together--perhaps such a time awaited him now. But, whatever the reason, doubt seized him--he turned back and was soon between his dirty friend's paws again, both of them sprawling in the mud.