"Is it that, mother? Is it indeed that?" said the boy, looking up with
a sudden dawning of hope.

And a sweet dawn of promise met him in his mother's eyes as she
answered:

"It is even that, my own, for thee and for me!"



CHAPTER IV.


With a glad heart, Gottlieb dressed the next morning before Lenichen
was awake, and was off to the choir-master for his lesson alone.

The new hope had inspired him, and he sang that morning to the content
even of the master, as he knew, not by his praise, but by his summoning
Ursula from the kitchen to listen, unable to resist his desire for the
sympathy of a larger audience.

Ursula was not exactly musical, nor was she demonstrative, but she
showed her satisfaction by appropriating her share of the success.

"_I_ knew what was wanting!" she said, significantly. "The birds and
the blessed angels may sing on crumbs or on the waters of Paradise; but
goose and pudding are a great help to the alleluias here below."

"The archduchess will be enraptured, and the Cistercians will be
furious!" said the choir-master, equally pleased at both prospects.