92 A DOG OF FLANDERS.

silver ; and he will not shut the door
against me then. Only love me al-
ways, 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 Flem-
ish 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 spoilt child, pushing him away ;