. She
shook herself, and made a face, as if she was dreadfully disgusted.
Hansgeorge had never liked a pipe better than that which Kitty started
for him.

Although it was the middle of summer, Hansgeorge could not be taken
home with his wound, and was compelled to stay at the brickmaker's
house. With this the patient was very well content; for, although his
parents came to nurse him, he knew very well that times would come when
he would be alone with Kitty.

The next day was Wendel's wedding; and when the church-bell rang and
the inevitable wedding-march was played in the village, Hansgeorge
whistled an accompaniment in his bed. After church the band paraded
through the village where the prettiest girls were, or where their
sweethearts lived. The boys and girls joined the procession, which
swelled as it went on: they came to the brickmaker's house also.
Fidele, as George's particular friend, came in with his sweetheart to
take Kitty off to the dance; but she thanked them, pleaded household
duties, and remained at home. Hansgeorge rejoiced greatly at this, and
when they ware alone he said,--

"Kitty, never mind: there'll be another wedding soon, and then you and
I will dance our best."

"A wedding?" said Kitty, sadly: "who is going to be married?"

"Come here, please," said Hansgeorge, smiling. Kitty approached, and he
continued:--"I may as well confess it: I shot my finger off on purpose,
because I don't want to be a soldier."

Kitty started back, screaming, and covered her face with her apron.

"What makes you scream?" said Hansgeorge. "A'n't you glad of it? You
ought to be, for you are the cause."

"Jesus! Maria! Joseph! No, no! surely I am innocent! Oh, Hansgeorge,
what a sinful thing you have done! Why, you might have killed yourself!
You are a wild, bad man! I never could live with you; I am afraid of
you."

She would have fled; but Hansgeorge held her with his left hand. She
tried to tear herself away, turned her back, and gnawed the end of her
apron: Hansgeorge would have given the world for a look, but all his
entreaties were in vain. He let her go, and waited a while to see
whether she would turn round; but, as she did not, he said, with a
faltering voice,--

"Will you be so kind as to fetch my father? I want to go home."

"No; you know you can't go home: you might get the lockjaw: Dr. Erath
said you might," returned Kitty,--still without looking at him.

"If you won't fetch anybody, I'll go alo