his troubles. The poor child won't venture near him after the rebuff she has received from his brother the Givenaught."
But he was mistaken. The Virgin had commanded, and Hildegarde would obey. She went to Herr Heartless and told her story. But he said coldly,—
"I am very poor, my child, and books are nothing to me. I wish you well, but I shall not come."
"When Hildegarde was gone, he chuckled and said,—
"How my fool of a soft-headed soft-hearted brother would rage if he knew how cunningly I have saved his pocket. How he would have flown to the old man's rescue! But the girl won't venture near him now."
When Hildegarde reached home, her father asked her how she had prospered. She said,—
"The Virgin has promised, and she will keep her word; but not in the way I thought. She knows her own ways, and they are best.
The old man patted her on the head, and smiled a doubting smile, but he honored her for her brave faith, nevertheless.
II.
Next day the people assembled in the great hall of the Ritter tavern, to witness the auction,—for the proprietor had said the treasure of Germany's most honored son should be bartered away in no meaner place. Hildegarde and her father sat close to the books, silent and sorrowful, and holding each other's hands. There was a great crowd of people present. The bidding began,—
"How much for this precious library, just as it stands, all complete?" called the auctioneer.
"Fifty pieces of gold!"
"A hundred!"
"Two hundred!"
"Three!"
"Four!"
"Five hundred!"
"Five twenty-five!"
A brief pause.
"Five forty!"
A longer pause, while the auctioneer redoubled his persuasions.
