No later than next morning the matter was privily settled by our notary;
and albeit Master Holzschuher did so dispose things as though the
deceased had left money to pay the debt withal, Ann saw through this,
whereas her beautiful mother did but thoughtlessly rejoice over such good
fortune.

Henceforth it was Ann's little hand which ruled the fatherless household
with steadfast thrift, while Mistress Giovanna, as had ever been her
wont, lived only to take care of the children's garments, that they
should be neat and clean, of the flowers in the window and the beautiful
needlework, and to fondle the little ones, so soon as she had got through
her light toil in the kitchen.

It was granted to her and hers that they should dwell henceforth forever
in the house by the Pegnitz, humbly indeed, but honorably and without the
aid of strangers. One alms to be sure was bestowed on them soon after
the first day of each month, and that right privily; for at that time
without fail a little packet in which were two Hungarian ducats was found
on the threshold of the hall. And who was the giver of this kind token
would have remained secret till doomsday had not Susan by chance, and to
his great vexation, betrayed my brother Kunz. My grand-uncle had granted
him three ducats a month since he had left school, and of these he ever
privily gave two to help the household ruled over by Ann. Our old Susan
it was who aided him in the matter, so, when he was by any means hindered
from laying the little packet on the threshold, she had to find an excuse
for going to the little house by the river.

The worshipful council and many friends whose good-will the deceased
scribe had won, got the orphans into the best schools in the town, and
what Ann had learned as head of the school at the Carthusian convent she