n
come to the sacrament tomorrow. May God have you in his holy keeping!"

Annele wished to accompany the Pastor a little way, but he said: "No
politeness at present. Be good and humble at heart. 'Judge yourself,
that ye be not judged,' says the Apostle Paul. Judge yourself, and
search your heart. Accustom yourself to sit quiet sometimes, and to
meditate."

The Pastor was gone, and Annele sat in the same place. It was not easy
for her to sit idle, and reflection was quite contrary to her nature,
but she forced herself to think over what had passed. Her child woke
up, and began to scream.

"The Pastor has no children; I cannot sit still any longer, I must
pacify the child," said she, taking the little girl out of bed. Deep
repentance, however, and new love for Lenz, had awoke within her heart.
"We will settle our own affairs," said she, "without the help of either
the Pastor or any one else."

It was noon and the sun shone brightly. Annele wrapped up the child
well, and went with it before the house. Perhaps Lenz will soon be
home, and she will welcome him kindly, and call out the "good morning"
he forgot to say when he left her; and she would tell him that all was
to go well between them in future. This is the very hour of her wedding
five years ago, and this shall be another happy day.

A man was seen climbing the hill: he was not yet near enough to be
recognised, but Annele said to the child, "Call, Father!"

The child did so; but when the man came up, it was not Lenz, but
Faller. He wore a hat, but he had another in his hand; and, hurrying up
to Annele, he called out--"Is Lenz come home?"

"No."

"Good heavens! here is his hat. My brother-in-law found it in the
Igelswang, close by the spot where the wood is floated down. If Lenz
has made away with himself! In God's name! what has been going on
here?"

Annele trembled in every limb, and pressed the child so close to her
heart that it began to cry loudly. "You are out of your mind," said
she, "and will soon drive me mad also. What do you mean?"

"Is not this his hat?"

"It is," screamed Annele, sinking to the ground with the child. Faller
lifted them both up.

"Has he been found?--dead?" asked Annele.

"No, God be praised!--not that. Come into the house--I will carry the
child. Be composed--probably he only lost his hat."

Annele tottered into the house. A mist was before her eyes, and
she waved her hands vaguely, as if to drive it away. "Was it
po