Gertrude listened with sunshine in her face to these words of praise, but
a little cloud of anxiety shadowed her eyes as she said,

"Yes, God be praised, he is a good boy and means well, but I do wish that
he had a little of Veronica's firmness of purpose. It is very pleasant to
have every one like him, but too great popularity is not always a good
thing. And those two companions that are always hanging about him, are not
such as I myself would choose for his friends."

"If they could all be put to some steady work it would be the best thing
for them," said Judith. "Idleness is the mother of mischief. Blasi is not
an ill-meaning fellow, but he is lazy, greatly to his own injury. Long
Jost is the worst of the two; a sly-boots, and a rare one too. It is to be
hoped that he will break his own leg, when he's trying to trip some one
else up with it."

"No, no, Judith, on this holy Easter day, we will not have such unkind
hopes as that. I hope and believe that the good God holds the children in
his protecting hand. We have given them to him; that is my comfort and
support Good-bye, Judith; come often to see us; we are always glad of your
company."

On the evening of this sunny Easter day, while rosy clouds moved slowly
across the clear sky, and the golden glow faded in the far west behind the
wooded heights, Gertrude came back from a long walk in the fields and
woods. On one side of her strode Dietrich, talking rapidly and earnestly:
the fresh joy of youth was written in every movement of his little figure,
and laughed from the depths of his clear eyes. On the other side Veronica
walked, listening in silence. Her noble features, above which her black
hair fell in shining waves, had a serious, thoughtful expression, but