gh for that. Faller and his
wife are not fit society for me. You can go, of course; I have not the
slightest objection."

Naturally, Lenz also gave up the excursion, and stayed at home, or went
to the Lion,--in either place showing more ill-temper than the occasion
at all warranted.

Lenz had never had in his hand a card or a ninepin ball,--those
consumers of time and low spirits. "I wish I did take pleasure, as
others do, in cards and ninepins," he said, innocently, quite
unprepared for Annele's sharp retort: "it does a man good to play, if
he only comes back the fresher to his business. Games are certainly
better than playing with one's work."

The pendulums swung more and more determinedly each in its own
direction.

Lenz sold the greater part of his stock on hand at good prices, but the
work he had undertaken for his father-in-law did not advance
satisfactorily. He could not help sometimes complaining to Annele that
this or that part of it disappointed him; whereupon she tried to
convince him that he did not give sufficient heed to his profits.

"Customers want the most work in the shortest time, but you make every
little thing a part of your religion. You are a dreamer,--a dreamer in
broad daylight. Do wake up! for pity's sake, wake up!"

"Good Heavens! I live in a perpetual turmoil. My sleep is no longer
sleep; I might as well lie on a bed of nettles. If I could only have
one good night's sleep again! I am so troubled that I start up every
other minute. It seems to me my clothes are never off, day or night."

Instead of sympathizing with her husband, and inspiring him with fresh
courage and self-reliance when he failed, Annele sought only to
convince him of his utter unfitness to do anything for himself, and the
necessity of his following her wiser counsels. When, on the other hand,
he did a good thing, and could not help calling out to her, "Hark, what
a beautiful tone!" she was very apt to answer: "I tell you honestly, I
don't like such organ music. I heard that same piece in Baden-Baden a
great deal better played."

Lenz had often said the same thing himself, had frankly acknowledged it
to Pilgrim; but hearing it from Annele pained him, and spoiled the
pleasure of his whole life's work.

Annele had a settled plan in her head, which, in her opinion, fully
justified the course she was taking. She felt her best powers wasted in
her present insignificant position. She longed to be earning something,
and