quickly along over the crisp, frozen ground. She was more silent than
usual, and seemed sunk in thought. In the middle of the wood she stopped
suddenly and said,

"Blasi will you do me a great favor?"

"I will do anything in the world for you, Veronica," was the prompt reply,
"I will jump into the big pond over there, and never come out again, if
you want me to."

"You couldn't get in now; it is frozen hard," said the girl, laughing. "I
don't want you to do that, but something very different. Do you think you
could find out what Jost knows about Dietrich? Perhaps he has told Jost
where he is, and where a letter would reach him."

"Yes, but look here, Veronica, are you still thinking about him, all this
time?" asked poor Blasi, quite taken aback.

"We will not talk about that," she answered curtly. "To tell the truth, I
am very anxious about our mother. She has been very far from well lately,
and she says every now and then, 'If I could only see him once more!' as
if she felt that she was not going to live much longer. Oh, help me get
word to Dietrich if you can, Blasi! do help me!" Veronica's eyes were full
of tears, as she raised them beseechingly to Blasi's face. He was much
touched at the sight of her tears; but then a great fear arose in his
mind, for he thought, "She is beginning to soften, and it will all turn
out just as Jost said." And he determined to prevent it at any cost.

"Don't lose your courage, and I'll try my best! I'll see what I can do!"
he said in a very decided tone, and with a most courageous air.