ips to the voluptuary, who rudely smacked them and
then took from her hand the pipkin she had brought, returning it in a
few minutes filled with ice.

The supply did not last long, but, when it was exhausted, Panna did not
go herself, sending in her place old Frau Molnar with a pleasant
greeting to the manager of the brewery. True, the latter frowned and
sneeringly asked why Her Highness did not appear in person, but he had
wisdom enough to give the ice for which she asked.

At the end of a week Pista had improved so much that the ice-bandages
were no longer needed, and he did not require constant nursing. Panna
who, hitherto, had come early in the morning and returned late in the
evening, now appeared only twice a day to enquire for the sick man and
bring him some refreshment, if it were only a handful of blackberries.
Of course, during all this time, there was no end of putting heads
together and whispering, but Panna did not trouble herself about it,
and quietly obeyed the dictates of her conscience.

Thus three weeks had passed since the fateful day. When, on the third
Sunday, Panna entered the Molnar's hut at the usual hour, this time
with a small bottle of wine under her apron, she found Pista, for the
first time, up, and dressed. He was just turning his back to the door
as the girl came in. She uttered a little exclamation of surprise,
Pista turned quickly and--Panna started back with a sudden shriek, the
flask fell shattered on the floor, and she covered her face with both
hands. It was her first sight of the young man's horribly disfigured
countenance without a bandage.

Pista went up to the trembling girl and said mournfully: "I frightened
you, but it must have happened some day. I felt just as you do now
when, a week ago, I made my mother hand me a looking-glass for the
first time. I see that it will be best for me to become a Capuchin
monk, henceforth I must give up appearing before the eyes of girls."

Panna hastily let her hands fall, gazed full at him with her sparkling
black eyes, and said gently:

"You always have girls in your head. Must you please them all?
Wouldn't one satisfy you?"

"Why, of course, but the one must be had first," replied Pista, with
forced cheerfulness.

Panna flushed crimson and made no reply; Pista looked at her in
surprise and doubt, but also remained silent, and in a few minutes the
girl went away with drooping head.

Pista now went to work again and endured