rk of that patient, yearning
tenderness which is maternal love.

'Here, my child,' she said gently, 'eat and drink, and forget the
horrible things you have passed through to-day.' Wilhelmine slipped an
arm round the old woman's neck, and kissed her as she had not done for
many a long day, perhaps never since she had been a little child. For a
moment she leaned her head against her mother's shoulder, and then taking
the food she began to eat. Frau von Graevenitz stuck the rush-light up
between a book which was lying on the table and the edge of the plate,
then shutting the window she went out, closing and re-locking the door
behind her.

* * * * *

On the following morning Wilhelmine woke early, and she was dressed when
her mother came to the door and bade her descend and help with the
housework. All traces of the unwonted tenderness in the old woman's face
had vanished. She had, apparently, forgotten the circumstances of the
previous day, or at any rate she made no allusion thereto, though her
daughter fancied she watched her narrowly. When the morning's work was
ended Wilhelmine returned to her chamber to dress for the church service.
She was brushing her hair, when she heard a knock at the house door,
followed by Frau von Graevenitz's shrill tones as she conversed in the
corridor with some person. Then she heard her mother mounting the stairs
and calling 'Wilhelmine!' in flustered tones. The girl hastened to the
door of her room and stood on the landing waiting to hear the cause of
her mother's summons.

'Your precious Monsieur Gabriel has gone off to Schwerin, it seems,' she
said, eyeing Wilhelmine sharply. 'He has sent a message, saying that he
prays you take his place at the organ this morning. He says he has urgent
business at Schwerin, though what it can be I am sure I do not know!
However, I suppose you will play the organ this morning, and I hope you
will make your Monsieur Gabriel pay you in good silver coin for your
trouble.' Wilhelmine's lip curled contemptuously. 'We have never paid him
a groschen for teaching me to play this same organ, mother,' she said.
'Of course I shall play this morning, but I shall persuade Anna to come
to the organ-loft with me,' she added, as a vision flashed across her of
Pastor Mueller, and a possible pursuit down the dark winding stair-way
after the congregation had left the church. She dressed quickly, and
wrapping her cloak round her went out