have escaped the consequences if, after finishing your work, you had
rested and refreshed yourself with food and drink. This, however, you
neglected to do; for when you had fallen insensible to the earth, and
Yoletta had called the dog and sent it to the house to summon
assistance, the food you had taken with you was found untasted in the
basket. Your life was thus placed in great peril; and although it is
good to lay life down when it has become a burden to ourselves and
others, being darkened by that failure of power from which there is no
recovery, wantonly or carelessly to endanger it in the flower of its
strength and beauty is a great folly and a great offense. Consider how
deep our grief would have been, especially the grief of Yoletta, if this
culpable disregard of your own safety and well-being had ended fatally,
as it came so near ending! It is therefore just and righteous that an
offense of such a nature should be recompensed; but it is a light
offense, not like one committed against the house, or even against
another person, and we also remember the occasion of it, since it was no
unworthy motive, but exceeding love, which clouded your judgment, and
therefore, taking all these things into account, it was my intention to
put you away from us for the space of thirteen days."

Here he paused, as if expecting me to make some reply. He had reproved
me so gently, even approving of the emotion, although still entirely in
the dark as to its meaning, which had caused my illness, that I was made
to feel very submissive, and even grateful to him.

"It is only just," I replied, "that I should suffer for my fault, and
you have tempered justice with more mercy than I deserve."

"You speak with the wisdom of a chastened spirit, my son," he said,
rising and placing his hand on my head; "and your words gladden me all