noon, late in
August, Veronica had delayed longer than usual in the work-room, to clear
all away and leave things in perfect order for Sunday.

She hurried up the hill road, not so much from fear of going through the
wood alone, as from desire to spare Gertrude the anxiety of watching for
her. Just before she reached the wood, she met Jost coming towards her. He
held out his hand with a friendly smile, saying,

"I came to meet you; I thought it would be getting too dark for you to go
alone through the forest; I can't let you go unprotected."

"You may spare yourself the pains," said Veronica shortly and crossed over
to the other side of the road. Jost crossed too.

"Veronica," he began after a little while, "it is not nice of you to treat
me as you have done since Dietrich went off. I know as well as you do,
that he did wrong in running away from you without letting you know where
he went to; but he may write yet, and meantime--"

"Don't say another word," interrupted Veronica; so decidedly that Jost was
silent for awhile. She crossed the road again, and presently Jost did the
same, and as he came up to her, he began again in a soft insinuating tone,

"Don't you see Veronica, that it isn't my fault that things have taken
this turn? I often thought of you when Dietrich was risking so much money,
and I used to say to him "think of her," for I knew how you would feel
about it."

"Oh, you Judas!" cried Veronica, swelling with rage, and she sprang
forward and ran on with all her might. Jost followed close at her heels.
When she had passed through the wood, and had come out on the Tannenegg
side, he said, in a flattering voice,

"Veronica, do you see how precious you are to me? I will protect you and
take care of you even if you do not speak one kind word to me. I shall
come to meet you every day, for I will not allow you to go through the
wood alone. You may meet all sorts of people there and may sometimes be
glad of my company. Bye-and-bye you will be convinced how much I care for
you."

Veronica was now near the house. She hurried on and without once looking
back, she sprang through the door and shut it fast behind her.

"You shall be tame enough before I have done with you," muttered Jost, and
he bit his lips until the blood came.

Veronica stood still on the other side of the door until she heard his
retreating footsteps; then she opened it and went out again. She went
over to the sexton's house. Blasi stood