the pastoral fields, professor.'"

"Oh, I hope you did not answer that," the mother said, quite frightened.

"Oh yes, but only in my thoughts! Please, mother, don't worry about
me," Dino implored.

"I am afraid that your professor is right," the mother said with a
sigh. "But I have a plan which we shall talk over to-night. I shall
also talk over our guardian's proposal, girls. Please try not to look
so terribly unhappy, for everything is not yet lost."

"Oh, it will come to that in the end," said Nika, leaving the room.

"Yes, and much worse, I guess," said Agnes. Violently pushing her chair
in place, she departed, after thrusting her music into a folder.

"What can be worse than when all is lost?" Dino called after her. "I
know what," responded Mux knowingly, while Agnes looked back at Dino
as if to say: If I had time I certainly would give an answer to you.

"What is it, wise little man?" asked Dino.

"If she had to eat nothing but cabbage all the time," replied Mux,
full of a conviction which he seemed to have acquired from his own
experience.

Dino, too, prepared to depart. With a sorrowful look, the mother passed
her hand over the boy's thick hair. "Please be careful, and do not run
too fast," she begged. "It's very bad for you to sit in the cool school