gulden for you, Ephraim.
With that you can, at all events, make a start; and then you need n't
sell the few things you still have. There... put the money away... oats
have n't fetched any price at all to-day, 't is true; but for the sake
of Gudule's children, I don't mind what I do... Come, put it away,
Ephraim... and may God bless you, and make you prosper."

"Uncle!" cried Ephraim, as he raised the farmer's hand to his lips, "is
all this to be mine? All this?"

"Yes, my boy, yes; it _is_ a deal of money is n't it?"... said Gudule's
brother, accompanying his words with a sounding slap on his massive
thigh. "I should rather think it is. With that you can do something, at
all events... and shall I tell you something? In Bohemia the oat crop
is, unfortunately, very bad this season. But in Moravia it's splendid,
and is two groats cheaper.... So there's your chance, Ephraim, my child;
you 've got the money, buy!" All at once a dark cloud overspread his
smiling face.

"It's a lot of money, Ephraim, that I am giving you... many a merchant
can't lay his hands on it," he said, hesitatingly; "but if... you were
to... gam--"

The word remained unfinished, for upon his arm he suddenly felt a
sensation as of a sharp, pricking needle.

"Uncle Gabriel!" cried Viola--for it was she who had gripped his
arm--and the child's cheeks were flaming, whilst her lips curled with
scorn, and her white teeth gleamed like those of a beast of prey. "Uncle
Gabriel!" she almost shrieked, "if you don't trust Ephraim, then take
your money back again... it's only because you are our mother's brother
that we accept it from you at all.... Ephraim shall repay you to the
last farthing.... Ephraim doesn't gamble... you sha 'n't lose a single
penny of it."

With a shake of his head the farmer regarded the strange child. He felt
something like annoyance rise within him; an angry word rose to the lips
of the usually good tempered man. But it remained unsaid; he was unable
to remove his eyes from the child's face.

"As I live," he muttered, "she has Gudule's very eyes."

And with another thumping slap on his leg, he merrily exclaimed:

"All right, we'll leave it so then.... If Ephraim does n't repay me,
I 'll take _you_, you wild thing... for you've stood surety for your
brother, and then I 'll take you away, and keep you with me at home. Do
you agree... you little spit-fire, eh?"

"Yes, uncle!" cried Viola.

"Then give me a kiss, Viola."

The ch