Page:A Leaf in the Storm.djvu/69

62, the miller at last came, jaded and broken, into his wife's presence. "It is lost for ever," he said, with an ashen cheek and a quiver in his stern voice. "We have looked with lanterns everywhere: it is gone—the little maiden's portion and all!"

His wife put the money into his hold, and told him how it had come back to her. The strong man sank trembling into a seat and covered his face with his hands, ashamed and almost afraid.

"I have been cruel to the lad," he muttered at length: "I deserved not to have good at his hands."

Little Alois, taking courage, crept close to her father and nestled against him her curly fair head.

"Nello may come here again, father?" she whispered. "He may come to-morrow as he used to do?"

The miller pressed her in his arms: his hard. sunburned face was very pale and his mouth trembled. "Surely, surely," he answered his child. "He shall bide here on Christmas Day, and any other day he will. In my greed I sinned, and the Lord chastened me gently; God helping me, I will make amends to the boy—I will make amends."

Little Alois kissed him in gratitude and joy then slid from his knees and ran to where the dog kept watch by the door.

"And to-night I may feast Patrasche?" she cried in a child's thoughtless glee.