scovered that he had a great deal to tell him, and to
consult him about. The two accompanied him through the wood, and when they
emerged from it on the other side, they usually saw a graceful figure
coming along the white road that led up the hill from Fohrensee. Then
without a word on the subject, as by tacit agreement, they stopped, shook
hands, and separated; the other two turned back toward the village, and
Dietrich went on. They felt instinctively that this was the best thing to
do. Dietrich, certainly, found out that his companions were not to
Veronica's mind, when one evening, the three being so engaged in talk that
they had not noticed that they were later than usual, Veronica came into
the wood before they left it, and she recognized Blasi and Jost, although
they turned quickly back.

"They can't have the best of consciences," said Veronica, as Dietrich
joined her; "if they had only straight-forward business on hand, why did
they take themselves off so hastily, as soon as I came in sight?"

"Can't you understand that we may have something to talk about, that we
do not wish you to hear?" asked Dietrich.

The girl was silent a few moments, and then she said, rather seriously,

"It would suit me far better, if you were not so much in company with
those two fellows. Blasi is absolutely idle, and cannot be nice, and Jost
is really bad; you can see that in his face. He never dares to look me
full in the eye; he always avoids a direct glance, as if he feared that
his eyes would betray him. I believe he is thoroughly false."

"No, no, you should not judge him so harshly," said Dietrich,
good-humoredly. "He is not what you think him; he is a good friend to me,
and has already taught me a great deal that I should never have got at
without his help. He is a very clever fellow."

Veronica let the matter drop, but it was plain that she had not changed
her opinion.

The days grew longer and brighter. The wood was filled with sweeter
perfumes evening after evening, as the two friends sauntered along their
homeward path, and in each young heart the feeling grew and ripened, that
still sweeter and more beautiful days were to come.

One afternoon in May, Veronica paced leisurely along the white hill-road,
her eyes fixed on the tall oak on the borders of the wood, which marked
the place where the foot-path came out upon the high road. Everything was
quiet; not a human being in sight. She reached the spot and looked
anxiou