the
Pastorin asked:--

"So the Forest Miller's Tony has given up Adam? Heaven be praised for
that! She has a pure and true heart, and is sure to do well in the
world. Why did you not bring her with you to the village? I wish you
had brought her here to me, Edward. She stands in great need of some
one to interpose between her and her stepmother, and also the fierce
old Roettmaennin."

Edward did not say a syllable, but he breathed hard; in the mean time
the Paster rejoined:--

"Don't be uneasy about Tony, she is wood of a fine and solid grain, and
we cannot avert from others the consequences of their own actions,
either for good or evil. They who have courage enough to do a deed,
have also courage enough to endure its consequences, and ought to have
it."

Edward looked up more cheerfully, but his cheeks glowed, and his
sister, on seeing this, said:--"You are quite feverish--do go and lie
down, and I will bring you a cup of tea when you are in bed."

Edward was very reluctant to follow this advice, and yet he felt quite
dizzy; he had gone through more than he cared at this moment to
confess. There was a knock at the door:--

"Come in," cried the Pastorin, but as there was an evident hesitation
in doing so, she opened the door herself, and in came Speidel-Roettmann,
Schilder-David and his wife, and, behind them, Adam and Martina.

"Herr Pastor," said Schilder-David, stepping forward, "God has helped
us wonderfully; we hope you will give us further aid, and speedily too,
that all things may be done in order."

"What do you wish me to do?"

"Speak yourself;" and David drew back, jogging Speidel-Roettmann's arm.

"What I want," began the latter, repeatedly stroking his closely
cropped head with his hand, as if wishing to give a token of respect by
pulling off an imaginary hat--"What I want, and I have not a word to
say against it, is that the Herr Pastor should marry Adam to Martina
this afternoon."

"Oh! that is delightful!" exclaimed the Pastorin, while Adam came
forward, holding Martina's hand, and said--

"Yes, Herr Pastor, we earnestly beg you will."

"Yes, we humbly beg it," repeated Martina, in a low voice.

"Gently, gently," said the Pastor, in an authoritative tone, "you two
young people, follow me to my room."

He went first, and the two followed him.

"Sit down," said the Pastor, when they were in his study--then he
continued: "Adam, probably because you are the richest man in all the
country,