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bread； and the hearts of the old man and the old dog ached together with
one thought： When they were gone who would care for their darling？
One afternoon； as they came back from Antwerp over the snow； which
had become hard and smooth as marble over all the Flemish plains； they
found dropped in the road a pretty little puppet； a tambourine player； all
scarlet and gold； about six inches high； and； unlike greater personages
when Fortune lets them drop； quite unspoiled and unhurt by its fall。 It was
a pretty toy。 Nello tried to find its owner； and； failing； thought that it was
just the thing to please Alois。
It was quite night when he passed the mill…house； he knew the little
window of her room； it could be no harm； he thought； if he gave her his
little piece of treasure…trovethey had been play…fellows so long。 There
was a shed with a sloping roof beneath her casement； he climbed it and
tapped softly at the lattice； there was a little light within。 The child opened
it and looked out half frightened。
Nello put the tambourine player into her hands。 〃Here is a doll I found
in the snow； Alois。 Take it；〃 he whispered； 〃take it； and God bless thee；
dear！〃
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He slid down from the shed roof before she had time to thank him； and
ran off through the darkness。
That night there was a fire at the mill。 Out…buildings and much corn
were destroyed； although the mill itself and the dwelling…house were
unharmed。 All the village was out in terror； and engines came tearing
through the snow from Antwerp。 The miller was insured； and would lose
nothing； nevertheless； he was in furious wrath； and declared aloud that the
fire was due to no accident； but to some foul intent。
Nello； awakened from his sleep； ran to help with the rest。 Baas Cogez
thrust him angrily aside。 〃Thou wert loitering here after dark；〃 he said
roughly。 〃I believe； on my soul； that thou dost know more of the fire than
any one。〃
Nello heard him in silence； stupefied； not supposing that any one could
say such things except in jest； and not comprehending how any one could
pass a jest at such a time。
Nevertheless； the miller said the brutal thing openly to many of his
neighbours in the day that followed； and though no serious charge was
ever preferred against the lad； it got bruited about that Nello had been seen
in the mill…yard after dark on some unspoken errand； and that he bore Baas
Cogez a grudge for forbidding his intercourse with little Alois； and so the
hamlet； which followed the sayings of its richest landowner servilely； and
whose families all hoped to secure the riches of Alois in some future time
for their sons； took the hint to give grave looks and cold words to old
Jehan Daas's grandson。 No one said anything to him openly； but all the
village agreed together to humour the miller's prejudice； and at the
cottages and farms where Nello and Patrasche called every morning for
the milk for Antwerp； downcast glances and brief phrases replaced to them
the broad smiles and cheerful greetings to which they had been always
used。 No one really credited the miller's absurd suspicions； nor the
outrageous accusations born of them； but the people were all very poor
and very ignorant； and the one rich man of the place had pronounced
against him。 Nello； in his innocence and his friendlessness； had no strength
to stem the popular tide。
〃Thou art very cruel to the lad；〃 the miller's wife dared to say； weeping；
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to her lord。 〃Sure； he is an innocent lad and a faithful； and would never
dream of any such wickedness； however sore his heart might be。〃
But Baas Cogez being an obstinate man； having once said a thing； held
to it doggedly； though in his innermost soul he knew well the injustice that
he was committing。
Meanwhile； Nello endured the injury done against him with a certain
proud patience that disdained to complain； he only gave way a little when
he was quite alone with old Patrasche。 Besides； he thought； 〃If it should
win！ They will be sorry then； perhaps。〃
Still； to a boy not quite sixteen； and who had dwelt in one little world
all his short life； and in his childhood had been caressed and applauded on
all sides； it was a hard trial to have the whole of that little world turn
against him for naught。 Especially hard in that bleak； snow…bound； famine…
stricken winter…time； when the only light and warmth there could be found
abode beside the village hearths and in the kindly greetings of neighbours。
In the winter…time all drew nearer to each other； all to all； except to Nello
and Patrasche； with whom none now would have anything to do； and who
were left to fare as they might with the old paralyzed； bedridden man in
the little cabin； whose fire was often low； and whose board was often
without bread； for there was a buyer from Antwerp who had taken to drive
his mule in of a day for the milk of the various dairies； and there were only
three or four of the people who had refused his terms of purchase and
remained faithful to the little green cart。 So that the burden which
Patrasche drew had become very light； and the centime pieces in Nello's
pouch had become； alas！ very small likewise。
The dog would stop； as usual； at all the familiar gates which were now
closed to him； and look up at them with wistful； mute appeal； and it cost
the neighbours a pang to shut their doors and their hearts； and let Patrasche
draw his cart on again； empty。 Nevertheless； they did it； for they desired to
please Baas Cogez。
Noel was close at hand。
The weather was very wild and cold； the snow was six feet deep； and
the ice was firm enough to bear oxen and men upon it everywhere。 At this
season the little village was always gay and cheerful。 At the poorest
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dwelling there were possets and cakes； joking and dancing； sugared saints
and gilded Jesus。 The merry Flemish bells jingled everywhere on the
horses； everywhere within doors some well…filled soup…pot sang and
smoked over the