ses
were right, and that the father had defamed his own son to escape
the remonstrances of a granddaughter.

CHAPTER XXIX.

When I began to reflect on the coming day, I remembered that it
would be necessary for me to congratulate my uncle on his birthday;
and I felt it would require a stretch of the forms of politeness to
do this in a becoming manner. It occurred to me now that if Francis
could only see through that little glass window in my breast, she
would have the best of the argument in future on the subject of the
conventionalities of society; for I confess to you, dear William,
I had become a convert to Aunt Sophia's opinions with regard to this
same General von Zwenken, and now I admired her prudence in preventing
her fortune from falling into such hands.

As the birthday fell on a Sunday we all went to the village church,
a duty which the General considered his position as lord of the manor
imposed upon him; and one which he performed as he would have done
any other duty laid down by the military code. The clergyman was old,
monotonous, and wearisome. The greater part of the congregation went
to sleep under the effects of his sermon. Francis took up a Bible
and pretended to read, whilst it seemed to me the wakeful part of the
congregation paid more attention to us than to their minister; and the
remarks they whispered about one to another struck me as not being
very favourable to us. The General alone kept his eyes fixed on the
preacher throughout the sermon; but whether his mind was so intently
occupied with the subject matter, I will not take upon myself to say.

On our return the fete commenced. The village schoolmaster brought
up his scholars, who recited a string of verses glorifying the Baron
as patron of the school, though I doubt whether he had ever entered
it. And I believe the same verses had done duty for several generations
on similar occasions, when the owners of the Werve admitted the master
and his scholars to an audience.

Then came the Pauwelsens from the farm, who still address the
General as their landlord; after them some of the villagers. All
these people were regaled with cake and chocolate. The burgomaster
[5] called in his turn; he was a regular rustic, and paid a good deal
more attention to me than to the General. He evidently saw in me a
mystery which excited his curiosity.

Captain Willibald also put in an appearance, and after congratulating
my uncle, handed him