e more distant vineyards. I watched his
progress. After he left me, he took off coat and waistcoat, displaying
his snowy shirt and gaily-worked braces; and presently he was as busy
as any one. I looked down on the village; the gray and orange and
crimson roofs lay glowing in the noonday sun. I could see down into the
streets; but they were all empty--even the old people came toiling up
the hill-side to share in the general festivity. Lottchen had brought up
cold dinners for a regiment of men; every one came and helped himself.
Thekla was there, leading the little Karoline, and helping the toddling
steps of Max; but she kept aloof from me; for I knew, or suspected, or
had probed too much. She alone looked sad and grave, and spoke so
little, even to her friends, that it was evident to see that she was
trying to wean herself finally from the place. But I could see that she
had lost her short, defiant manner. What she did say was kindly and
gently spoken. The Fraeulein came out late in the morning, dressed, I
suppose, in the latest Worms fashion--quite different to anything I had
ever seen before. She came up to me, and talked very graciously to me
for some time.

"Here comes the proprietor (squire) and his lady, and their dear
children. See, the vintagers have tied bunches of the finest grapes on
to a stick, heavier than the children or even the lady can carry. Look!
look! how he bows!--one can tell he has been an _attache_ at Vienna.
That is the court way of bowing there--holding the hat right down before
them, and bending the back at right angles. How graceful! And here is
the doctor! I thought he would spare time to come up here. Well, doctor,
you will go all the more cheerfully to your next patient for having been
up into the vineyards. Nonsense, about grapes making other patients for
you. Ah, here is the pastor and his wife, and the Fraeulein Anna. Now,
where is my brother, I wonder? Up in the far vineyard, I make no doubt.
Mr. Pastor, the view up above is far finer than what it is here, and the
best grapes grow there; shall I accompany you and madame, and the dear
Fraeulein? The gentleman will excuse me."

I was left alone. Presently I thought I would walk a little farther,
or at any rate change my position. I rounded a corner in the pathway,
and there I found Thekla, watching by little sleeping Max. He lay on
her shawl; and over his head she had made an arching canopy of broken
vine-branches, so that the great leav