"Donkeys dance on ropes, school-boys dabble in doctor's business! Show me the thing at once! We want no quack wares." "Quack wares!" replied Adrian eagerly.

"It cost all my fair money, and it's good medicine." During this little discussion Doctor Bontius came down-stairs with the burgomaster's wife.

He had heard the boy's last words and asked sternly: "Where did you get the stuff ?" With these words, he seized the hand of the lad, who did not venture to resist the stern man, took the little vial and printed directions from him and, after Adrian had curtly answered: "From Doctor Morpurgo!" continued angrily: "The brew is good to be thrown away; only we must take care not to poison the fishes with it, and the thing cost half a florin.

You're a rich young man, Meister Adrian! If you have any superfluous capital again, you can lend it to me." These words spoiled the boy's pleasure, but did not convince him, and he defiantly turned half away from the physician.

Barbara understood what was passing in his mind, and whispered compassionately to the doctor and her sister-in-law: "All his fair money to help the young lady." Maria instantly approached the disappointed child, drew his curly head towards her and silently kissed his forehead, while the doctor read the printed label, then without moving a muscle, said as gravely as ever: "Morpurgo isn't the worst of quacks, the remedy he prescribes here may do the young lady good after all." Adrian had been nearer crying than laughing.