"Eric," said his mother, "we have not done this in anger. But the Prost willed it, and who dares resist the Prost?" "Mother, what have I done to anger the Prost?" "He says you are a genius." "Is that something very bad?" "Oh, yes! Very, very bad!" "But you said the dear Lord would not let me be bad, if I prayed to Him. And I have prayed six times, and four times." "Well, you must pray fifty times." "Yes, I will." He went and knelt down, and folded his hands, looking upward and said: "Thou, dear Lord, I did not be a genius on purpose. It came its own self. Help me not to be one any more." But his pale, sorrowful little face smote his mother to the heart. Her spirit rose in rebellion against the Prost. Why should he come with this terrible and mysterious accusation against her godly boy? She lay awake long that night, thinking what was to be done, and the next morning, as soon as Olaf had gone to his work, she said to the grandmother: "If you will take care of the little ones for me, while I go to the village, I will spin for you as long as you require." "And what errand have you at the village, child?" "The Prostinna is always kind; she will make me understand what is evil in the boy; as for me, I see no evil in him, and my heart is breaking." "Yes, go, thou good child. And the dear Lord go with thee!" The Prostinna received Viola with great sympathy, when she learned that she had come in sorrow; but when she heard her artless tale, could with difficulty repress peals of laughter. "You do not understand the Prost, my poor child," she said, as she could trust herself to speak. "The boy is a gifted boy; he will become a great man; there is nothing to be alarmed about." "But the Prost called me an unhappy mother," objected Viola. "Yes, for when your son has won a name and riches, and is abroad in the world, he will despise, nay, he will forget you; you will see him no more." "It is not true!" cried Viola, proudly. "No, thank God, it is not thus my boy will demean himself. And how should having great gifts come between him and salvation? Are not all gifts from the Lord?" "They are; and it is their abuse, only, that makes them perilous. Now let me advise you how to manage the boy. Give him the best education you can; keep him pure, and simple, and pious; and leave the rest to God. He can take care of his future, and, if you trust Him, He will." Viola thanked the kind lady, and went home relieved, though after such a humiliation as that of the previous day, not proud.