ofit by it, married and single. The Holy
Scriptures are like music,--out of the hundreds and hundreds who
listen, not one deprives his neighbour of any share of it--each one has
it entire for himself."

"And I can tell you that I like to listen to you almost better than to
our Pastor; with you everything seems to have a firm and clear
foundation. I can't quite explain what I mean:--I often think it is a
sad pity that you are only a clockmaker."

"Only a clockmaker! I rejoice at being one, for it is a fine calling. I
could preach a sermon on that text. The whole world is a clock, wound
up by God from all Eternity. There the stars revolve, and run their
appointed course. Pilgrim once said that there was no clock in
Paradise; certainly not, but from the hour when men were forced to
work, they were obliged to divide the time; and just imagine what it
would be to us if we no longer knew the different hours; we should be
like children or lunatics."

"You can expound everything so well; I had never thought of that
before."

This remark inspired Lenz with fresh eloquence.

"I am devoted to clockmaking; and if I cannot succeed with my musical
timepieces, I can at least make the common clocks of the Black Forest:
a sure mode of getting money. I can always have recourse to that. I
earn much more by the musical instruments, but I cannot trust to them
for a livelihood, for I can only make them when they are bespoke, and I
might some fine day discover that I had nothing, for lovers of music
are not to be met with every day,--and when I do leave my common clocks
for my musical ones, I feel so happy that----"

"Your heart jumps for joy,--you feel as if a blessing rested on your
labours."

"Oh! Annele, how clever and loveable you are! If I only knew----"

"Knew what--what then?"

There was so much warmth and tenderness in these simple words, that
Lenz, flushed with emotion, stammered,--

"I cannot say it--if you don't know it I cannot say; Annele, I
feel----"

"My children, all the people in the room are staring at you. What are
you saying to each other?" said the Landlady, suddenly coming up to
them. "Lenz, if you have anything confidential to say to Annele, I
place entire trust in you, for you are a high principled man; I will
put lights into the back parlour, and you can talk together there at
your ease."

"Oh, no, mother!" exclaimed Annele, trembling, but the Landlady went
hastily out of the room, and Annele hurried