"The child was almost run over by my carriage, take more care of it in future. Here is something for the fright he got."
The dull features of the woman, which had hitherto hardly shown any concern, lighted up at sight of the shining thalers which he held out to her in his haughty, indifferent way. She curtseyed low, and thanked the Gnädigen Herrn Grafen[[4]] for his kindness. The young girl had half risen, her large eyes travelling slowly from the mother to the child, and then back to the money, which the former held in her hand. She stood up suddenly, turned her back upon the group, and without saying a word, went towards the inn.
With quick steps Hermann overtook her.
"You see the fright was soon atoned for. The woman will bless the chance which has thrown her day's wages for three weeks into her hands."
The words sounded half mocking, and half like a sort of excuse. The girl pressed her lips together.
"I did not think it possible that a mother could possess so little self-respect as to let anxiety for her child's safety be bought off in that way."
Hermann smiled sarcastically.
"Self respect! In a village woman? Pardon me, Fräulein, you must come from a town, and cannot know our country folks."
"One can make acquaintance with poverty in the town too, especially when no very great depth separates one from it, Herr Graf."
Hermann bit his lips.