said,

"May I ask one thing more of you, Blasi? I hope I shall be able to repay
you some day for all your kindness."

"Only speak, Veronica," said Blasi, "I will do anything you ask. If you
want me to, I will go to find Dietrich, even if I have to go on foot all
the way to Australia."

"Oh, it is no such long journey as that. I am sorry to ask you to do a
disagreeable errand, but you see Mother is much disturbed because this
mail-bag has not been sent back. She seems to be in a hurry to have
everything finished and settled up--as if she had no time to lose."
Veronica paused, and the tears that it so troubled Blasi to see, filled
her eyes to overflowing. "I promised mother that the bag should be sent
home early tomorrow morning, and you see I have no one but you to ask. You
can't leave your work in the daytime and at evening you have to go to meet
me; so there is no time but the very early morning before work hours."

"I will take it if it snows cats and dogs; but where is it to go?"

"It is not a pleasant walk, unless you go a long way round by the
high-road. The bag belongs at the post-office at the Valley bridge. Do
you think you could get down the steep foot-path in this deep snow? I
should feel dreadfully if anything were to happen to you, Blasi."

Blasi was not afraid. He was proud to show Veronica that she might count
on his courage, where he had only the forces of nature to contend against,
and not the treacherous tricks of Jost.

Veronica had a hard battle with herself that night. "Must I do it?" she
asked herself again and again, and each time her heart revolted and she
groaned aloud, "I cannot, oh, I cannot!"

Then the image of Gertrude rose before her, pale and suffering, and she
heard her heart-rending words, "If I could only see him once more!"
Veronica could not sleep, nor could she come to any decision.

Next morning it seemed that Blasi was to be taken at his word, and his
boast of being ready for service, no matter what the weather might be, was
to be put to the proof; for it stormed furiously and the wind blew so
fiercely when he left the house, that he could scarcely make way against
it. The half-frozen snow stung and blinded him, but it did not deter him.
He forced his way onwards, and though it was still dark and he could not
see one step before him, he went on as confidently and unhesitatingly as
if there were no chance of his losing his way. And he did not lose it.
When day dawned he fou