"What I give to the wife of my bosom shall never be reckoned as lost," he had answered.

She had loved him for the words, and had pressed his hand in hers--but she had not taken his money.

From her aunt some small meagre supply had been accepted from time to time--a florin or two now, and a florin or two again--given with repeated intimations on aunt Sophie's part, that her husband Karil could not be expected to maintain the house in the Kleinseite.

Nina had not felt herself justified in refusing such gifts from her aunt to her father, but as each occasion came she told herself that some speedy end must be put to this state of things.

Her aunt's generosity would not sustain her father, and her aunt's generosity nearly killed herself.