This rich artisan, long, long ago, when he had only just served his apprenticeship, was tenderly disposed towards Teresa, and offered her his hand.

But Teresa's relatives would not give him the girl, although she loved him; their family belonged to the official class, and looked down upon a mere workman.

So Boltay went away and married some one else, and the marriage turned out unhappy and childless; and by the time his wife died both he and Teresa had grown old.

Teresa had never married at all.

For forty years she had been growing old and grey, but she had never forgotten her first love.