and can help yourself out of a full purse, without even
thinking. What will it cost? you may imagine that whatever you choose
can be done at once; you are proud of your strength, because you can
knock down a horse, or kill a wolf with your stick: do you suppose that
you are, therefore, entitled to imagine that where you are concerned,
there are no laws or sacred injunctions, that cannot be abrogated when
you wish it?"--

The Pastor paused, and Adam began--

"Herr Pastor! no one in the world knows me as I really am--neither my
father, nor my mother--no one but my Martina. You, Herr Pastor, do know
something of me; but not everything. What you have just said is very
true; I have been a wild fellow; always ready to hit every man--a word
and a blow; and I fear it is true, that I had not, hitherto, entirely
subdued this wild fellow within me; but, Herr Pastor, he is now down
for ever, and you and my Martina ... only give me some penance to
perform; I will submit cheerfully, for I deserve it. Desire me to hack
off my fingers, that I may become as weak as a child, and I will not
shrink from it."

Adam's emotion was so great that he could not say another word, and the
Pastor resumed--

"The law is, that you must be proclaimed three Sundays following."

"Is it not enough that the perils of my child made my blood run cold in
my veins? Tell me what to do, Herr Pastor, and I will do it."

"Oh! Herr Pastor," entreated Martina; "have we not been punished
severely enough? Have we not repented long enough?"

"No! you conducted yourself very properly during your long trial, but
your sin was no light one. It shall never be said that those who once
set the law at defiance, shall do the same now."

"If we cannot help ourselves, we must submit, I suppose," said Adam.
Martina could not speak for tears. The Pastor let her remain for a time
quiet, and then said:--

"Come with me to the next room."

"Is it all arranged?" asked the Pastorin.

Adam and Martina shook their heads, and Speidel-Roettmann came forward
and said, "Herr Pastor, is it on account of the banns?"

"Yes, yes," answered Adam.

"If that is all," said Speidel-Roettmann with an air of importance,
"Herr Pastor, I am willing to pay the fine it will cost."

"Truly, if rich farmers could smooth all obstacles with their money,
there would be little difficulty for them in this world; but, Master
Roettmann, there are some things which even your ten horses could not
mo