ed up again to the
pastor freely and openly.

"Then," the latter said after a while, "there is still something else,
Erick. Have you known your father?"

"No."

"Do you know if he is still alive, where he is?"

"Mother told me father had gone to America, to make a large fortune for
himself and for us; but he has not yet returned."

"Do you know other relatives, sisters or brothers of your mother, or
some close friends?"

"No."

"Don't you know of anyone to whom one could turn, who would look after
you?"

"No, no," said Erick, quite anxiously.

But the pastor put his hand very kindly on Erick's head and said: "You
must not be afraid, my boy, all will come out all right. You may go
now."

Erick rose; he hesitated for a moment, then he asked somewhat
falteringly: "Must I go now directly to be auctioned? I am afraid
Marianne has gone by now."

"No, no," the pastor answered quickly, "you will not go there at all,
not at all. Now you go down to Mamma, she will keep you for the
present."

Erick's eyes shone for joy. He had thought up till now that he would be
sent to the auction, away from the happy life in the parsonage, but now
this threatening bugbear was done away with forever. When Erick entered
the sitting-room he found old Marianne sitting there. They had sent
word, the evening before, that Erick would not come back for the night,
but Marianne could not have gone away without taking leave of him. With
many tears she bade him good-bye, and Erick too felt sorry that good old
Marianne was going away; but since he might stay in the parsonage, it
was indeed a different thing for him than if he had had to remain behind
alone.

The weeping Marianne had hardly left the door, when the stately Mayor
came in and went with firm steps toward the pastor's study. Early in the
morning, when he was going into the vineyard, he had met the Justice of
Peace, and heard from him all the happenings of yesterday, how Erick had
spoiled the game for the grape-thieves, and how they, the would-be
thieves, had run far beyond the next two villages before they even
became aware that it was only their allies who were chasing them.
Kaetheli had learned all that, and had reported it to her father. The
Mayor was quite satisfied with the outcome of the affair, and since he
looked on Erick as the saver of his grapes, he now came to the pastor to
talk over what could be done for the poor orphan.

The gentlemen held a long consultation,