er begged him to come often, and to bring his
wife with him. "Your wife is a clever, good woman; remember me to her
and the children." Lenz felt it so strange to hear all this, and to be
obliged to accept it thankfully. The old lady spoke so cordially, that
there could be no doubt she meant what she said. It was evident that in
this family nothing but good was spoken of any one, and that was the
reason the old lady heard only pleasant things of her neighbours.

"Just as you came in," said the grandmother, "we were speaking of your
father, and also of my dear deceased husband. A clock merchant from
Prussia has just been here, and he said the clocks are not so neatly
finished, as in the days when your father and my husband worked
together; they don't keep time so exactly: but I replied on the
contrary, all honour to the dead! but the present clocks go certainly
quite as well as in the old time, but men were not so exact in those
days as they are now, that is the reason. Am I not right, Lenz? You are
an honest man: say, am I right or wrong?"

Lenz pronounced her to be perfectly right, and said how particularly
good and fair it was on her part, not to allow the good old times to be
praised at the cost of the new.

The Techniker attributed the extreme and strict accuracy of modern
days, to railroads and telegraphs.

Now that the conversation had become more general, the Doctor took Lenz
aside, and said: "Lenz, you will not, I hope, be offended with what I
am about to say." Lenz shrunk from him. Is the Doctor, too, going to
speak to him about the state of his family? He could scarcely stammer
forth: "What do you mean?"

"I only wished to say, if it was not disagreeable to you, and I think
you would perhaps not object to it--but what is the use of a long
preface? I wish you to enter the clock manufactory of my son and my
son-in-law, in the capacity of overseer. You will be of great use to
them, and in time they propose giving you a certain share in the
business, in addition to your salary."

This was like a hand from Heaven stretched forth to succour him. Lenz
replied in feverish haste: "Yes, indeed, I can and will gladly accept.
the offer. But, Herr Doctor, you are aware that I sought by every means
in thy power, to induce all the clockmakers in our district, to enter
into an association. So many things have occupied me lately, that the
affair has gone quite out of my head. I should not like to enter the
manufactory, u