Nello’seyesleftherfaceandwanderedtothedistance，where，intheredandgoldoftheFlemishnight，thecathedralspirerose。TherewasasmileonhisfacesosweetandyetsosadthatlittleAloiswasawedbyit。\"Iwillbegreatstill，\"hesaidunderhisbreath——\"greatstill，ordie，Alois。\"
\"Youdonotloveme，\"saidthelittlespoiledchild，pushinghimaway;
buttheboyshookhisheadandsmiled，andwentonhiswaythroughthetallyellowcorn，seeingasinavisionsomedayinafairfuturewhenheshouldcomeintothatoldfamiliarlandandaskAloisofherpeople，andbenotrefusedordenied，butreceivedinhonour;whilethevillagefolkshouldthrongtolookuponhimandsayinoneanother’sears，\"Dostseehim？Heisakingamongmen;forheisagreatartistandtheworldspeakshisname;andyethewasonlyourpoorlittleNello，whowasabeggar，asonemaysay，andonlygothisbreadbythehelpofhisdog。\"Andhethoughthowhewouldfoldhisgrandsireinfursandpurples，andportrayhimastheoldmanisportrayedintheFamilyinthechapelofSt。Jacques;andofhowhewouldhangthethroatofPatraschewithacollarofgold，andplacehimonhisrighthand，andsaytothepeople，\"Thiswasoncemyonlyfriend;\"andofhowhewouldbuildhimselfagreatwhitemarblepalace，andmaketohimselfluxuriantgardensofpleasure，ontheslopelookingoutwardtowherethecathedralspirerose，andnotdwellinithimself，butsummontoit，astoahome，allmenyoungandpoorandfriendless，butofthewilltodomightythings;andofhowhewouldsaytothemalways，iftheysoughttoblesshisname，\"Nay，donotthankme——thankRubens。Withouthim，whatshouldIhavebeen？\"Andthesedreams——beautiful，impossible，innocent，freeofallselfishness，fullofheroicalworship——weresocloselyabouthimashewentthathewashappy——happyevenonthissadanniversaryofAlois’ssaint’sday，whenheandPatraschewenthomebythemselvestothelittledarkhutandthemealofblackbread，whileinthemill-houseallthechildrenofthevillagesangandlaughed，andatethebigroundcakesofDijonandthealmondgingerbreadofBrabant，anddancedinthegreatbarntothelightofthestarsandthemusicoffluteandfiddle。
\"Nevermind，Patrasche，\"hesaid，withhisarmsroundthedog’sneck，astheybothsatinthedoorofthehut，wherethesoundsofthemirthatthemillcamedowntothemonthenightair;\"nevermind。Itshallallbechangedby-and-by。\"
Hebelievedinthefuture;Patrasche，ofmoreexperienceandofmorephilosophy，thoughtthatthelossofthemillsupperinthepresentwasillcompensatedbydreamsofmilkandhoneyinsomevaguehereafter。AndPatraschegrowledwheneverhepassedbyBaasCogez。