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nay。〃 And he thought so still in his innocence； and one day； when the little
Alois； finding him by chance alone among the corn…fields by the canal； ran
to him and held him close； and sobbed piteously because the morrow
would be her saint's day； and for the first time in all her life her parents
had failed to bid him to the little supper and romp in the great barns with
which her feast…day was always celebrated； Nello had kissed her and
murmured to her in firm faith； 〃It shall be different one day； Alois。 One
day that little bit of pine wood that your father has of mine shall be worth
its weight in silver； and he will not shut the door against me then。 Only
love me always； dear little Alois； only love me always； and I will be
great。〃
〃And if I do not love you？〃 the pretty child asked； pouting a little
through her tears； and moved by the instinctive coquetries of her sex。
Nello's eyes left her face and wandered to the distance； where； in the
red and gold of the Flemish night； the cathedral spire rose。 There was a
smile on his face so sweet and yet so sad that little Alois was awed by it。 〃I
will be great still；〃 he said under his breath〃great still； or die； Alois。〃
〃You do not love me；〃 said the little spoiled child； pushing him away；
but the boy shook his head and smiled； and went on his way through the
tall yellow corn； seeing as in a vision some day in a fair future when he
should come into that old familiar land and ask Alois of her people； and be
not refused or denied； but received in honour； while the village folk should
throng to look upon him and say in one another's ears； 〃Dost see him？ He
is a king among men； for he is a great artist and the world speaks his name；
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and yet he was only our poor little Nello； who was a beggar； as one may
say； and only got his bread by the help of his dog。〃 And he thought how he
would fold his grandsire in furs and purples； and portray him as the old
man is portrayed in the Family in the chapel of St。 Jacques； and of how he
would hang the throat of Patrasche with a collar of gold； and place him on
his right hand； and say to the people； 〃This was once my only friend；〃 and
of how he would build himself a great white marble palace； and make to
himself luxuriant gardens of pleasure； on the slope looking outward to
where the cathedral spire rose； and not dwell in it himself； but summon to
it； as to a home； all men young and poor and friendless； but of the will to
do mighty things； and of how he would say to them always； if they sought
to bless his name； 〃Nay； do not thank methank Rubens。 Without him；
what should I have been？〃 And these dreamsbeautiful； impossible；
innocent； free of all selfishness； full of heroical worshipwere so closely
about him as he went that he was happyhappy even on this sad
anniversary of Alois's saint's day； when he and Patrasche went home by
themselves to the little dark hut and the meal of black bread； while in the
mill…house all the children of the village sang and laughed； and ate the big
round cakes of Dijon and the almond gingerbread of Brabant； and danced
in the great barn to the light of the stars and the music of flute and fiddle。
〃Never mind； Patrasche；〃 he said； with his arms round the dog's neck；
as they both sat in the door of the hut； where the sounds of the mirth at the
mill came down to them on the night air； 〃never mind。 It shall all be
changed by…and…by。〃
He believed in the future； Patrasche； of more experience and of more
philosophy； thought that the loss of the mill supper in the present was ill
compensated by dreams of milk and honey in some vague hereafter。 And
Patrasche growled whenever he passed by Baas Cogez。
〃This is Alois's name…day； is it not？〃 said the old man Daas that night；
from the corner where he was stretched upon his bed of sacking。
The boy gave a gesture of assent； he wished that the old man's memory
had erred a little； instead of keeping such sure account。
〃And why not there？〃 his grandfather pursued。 〃Thou hast never
missed a year before； Nello。〃
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〃Thou art too sick to leave；〃 murmured the lad； bending his handsome
head over the bed。
〃Tut！ tut！ Mother Nulette would have come and sat with me； as she
does scores of times。 What is the cause； Nello？〃 the old man persisted。
〃Thou surely hast not had ill words with the little one？〃 〃Nay；
grandfather； never；〃 said the boy quickly； with a hot colour in his bent face。
〃Simply and truly； Baas Cogez did not have me asked this year。 He has
taken some whim against me。〃
〃But thou hast done nothing wrong？〃
〃That I knownothing。 I took the portrait of Alois on a piece of pine；
that is all。〃
〃Ah！〃 The old man was silent； the truth suggested itself to him with
the boy's innocent answer。 He was tied to a bed of dried leaves in the
corner of a wattle hut； but he had not wholly forgotten what the ways of
the world were like。
He drew Nello's fair head fondly to his breast with a tenderer gesture。
〃Thou art very poor； my child；〃 he said； with a quiver the more in his aged；
trembling voice； 〃so poor！ It is very hard for thee。〃
〃Nay； I am rich；〃 murmured Nello； and in his innocence he thought so；
rich with the imperishable powers that are mightier than the might of kings。
And he went and stood by the door of the hut in the quiet autumn night；
and watched the stars troop by and the tall poplars bend and shiver in the
wind。 All the casements of the mill…house were lighted； and every now and
then the notes of the flute came to him。 The tears fell down his cheeks； for
he was but a child； yet he smiled； for he said to himself； 〃In the future！〃
He stayed there until all was quite still and dark； then he and Patrasche
went within and slept together； long and deeply； side by side。
Now he had a secret which only Patrasche knew。 There was a little
outhouse to the hut which no one entered but himselfa dreary place； but
with abundant clear light from the north。 Here he had fashioned himself
rudely an easel in rough lumber； and here； on a great gray sea of stretched
paper； he had given shape to one of the innumerable fancies which
possessed his brain。 No one had ever taught him anything