"And thanks to all!" said the father, as he reached the threshold. "Thanks to all, with my whole soul! I shall come back another time to thank you all again." He stood for a moment in thought, then disengaged himself abruptly from the girl, turned back, fumbling in his waistcoat with his hand, and shouted like a man in a fury: "Come now, I am not a poor devil! So here, I leave twenty lire for the institution, a fine new gold piece."

And with a tremendous bang, he deposited his gold piece on the table. "No, no, my good man," said the mistress, with emotion. "Take back your money. I cannot accept it. Take it back. It is not my place. You shall see about that when the director is here. But he will not accept anything either; be sure of that. You have toiled too hard to earn it, poor man. We shall be greatly obliged to you, all the same." "No; I shall leave it," replied the gardener, obstinately; "and then we will see." But the mistress put his money back in his pocket, without leaving him time to reject it. And then he resigned himself with a shake of the head; and then, wafting a kiss to the mistress and to the large girl, he quickly took his daughter's arm again, and hurried with her out of the door, saying: "Come, come, my daughter, my poor dumb child, my treasure!" And the girl exclaimed, in her harsh voice: "Oh, how beautiful the sun is!"