Ill-fated Ferdinand! thou hast undone thyself, and rendered me culpable and wretched; but the infant is at least innocent; I did not curse, not reprobate that, therefore I will allow something to keep it from want."—On his return Ernest was called, and directed to pay them quarterly twenty crowns. The old man was overjoyed, and tried to obtain a larger allowance, but his master was immovable: "To keep them from want is sufficient, it is the charity I would bestow on a stranger, they have no claims upon me."
Glad even to have gained this point, Ernest hastened to them with the intelligence, with a quarter's advance, and bid them look on it as a lucky omen of future reconciliation. Ferdinand was transported; he wrote to his father a letter full of acknowledgments, deep contrition for having offended him, and every possible submission his situation would allow of; but his letter was returned unopened, and Ernest forbidden to mention his name.———Rhodophil frequently visited them, and often made Claudina little presents, which were
