There were four of them--the youngest a mite of two or three, who only babbled with the others; the eldest, a pale little girl of seven or eight years.
"Children! Just let me catch you!" scolded the mother; but her voice shook with nervous excitement.
"Please, Frau Wander, won't you cut the children some bread first?
We can talk afterward." In a twinkling the eldest girl had fetched a knife from the kitchen, the children continuing to clap their hands delightedly, and Frau Wander cut them large slices, and while she was so engaged, "We have never had anything given us, Herr Doctor," she said; "we have always earned our living with honest work.

It is hard to have to come to this; but what can you do when the police put a rope round your neck ?" "You must not worry any longer, dear Frau Wander," said Wilhelm, "but you must not speak like that of the police.

You do yourself no good by it, and perhaps a great deal of harm.

We will do what we can for you.
Never mind about the rent.

You will stay on quietly here, and allow me to assist you with this trifle." He pressed two twenty-mark pieces into the half-reluctant hand so unused to accepting alms.