He had not grown much, but was plump and rosy as a ripe apple.

Wilhelm kissed him, and stroked the soft, fair curls that felt so much like Pilar's silky hair.
"Have you been a good boy all this time ?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, very good--haven't I, father ?" the boy cried eagerly.

"And I can read now--everything--the newspaper too.

I got a beautiful big box of bricks for it at Christmas." Wilhelm had taken him on his knee, but the lively child would not keep quiet for long.

He jumped down and hopped about in front of his godfather and chattered away.
"I say, Onkelchen, you have just come in time for my birthday, haven't you ?" Wilhelm had not thought of it.
"When is your birthday, my boy ?" he asked, rather crestfallen.
"Why, don't you know?
It is the day after to-morrow.