le us to send
on the families of the exiled workmen to join their respective
bread-winners. So we go round knocking at the doors of our wealthy
associates, who, though in consideration of the times they do not care
to declare themselves openly for us, nevertheless have a feeling heart
for the workingman's distress."

All the time he was speaking he looked Wilhelm straight in the eyes.
Wilhelm bore his gaze quietly, and answered:

"If you think I share your opinions you are much mistaken. I consider
that you are pursuing a false course, that you make assertions to the
workingman which you cannot prove, and promise him things you cannot
fulfill, and I frankly confess that I do not envy you the
responsibility you have taken upon your own shoulders."

The leader stroked his short beard with a nervous movement, and the
mechanic twisted his hat awkwardly between his hands. Wilhelm went on
after a short pause:

"But that does not prevent me from sympathizing with the distress of
women and children, and I shall be very glad to do what I can if you
will give me a detailed account of the state of affairs."

In a few plain words the visitor gave a sketch of the circumstances,
all the more heartbreaking for its very unpretentiousness. So many men
dismissed, so many wives, so many children, so many parents and near
relatives unable to support themselves. Of these so many were sick, so
many women lately confined, so many cripples. So many had prospects of
better circumstances if they could get away from Berlin. For that
purpose such and such a sum was necessary. So much was already in hand.
He stated the amount of certain large donations, and added--"I will not
mention the names of the subscribers, as it might happen that it would
be to your advantage not to know them."

Wilhelm had listened in silence. He now opened a drawer of his
writing-table, took out a yellow envelope in which Schrotter was in the
habit of giving him, on the first of every month, fifteen hundred marks
out of the Dorfling bequest, and handed the sum which he had received
the day before, and was still unbroken, to the workingmen's leader. The
man turned over the three five-hundred-mark notes, and then looked up
startled. Wilhelm only nodded his head slightly.

The leader rose. "It would be inadvisable to give you a receipt. You
have no doubt, I think, that your noble gift will be used for its
proper object. Thank you a thousand times, and if you should ev