f ever facing the Doctor again in
broad daylight. His usual pride, which made him say he was quite
indifferent to what the world thought of him, was all gone. Now Pilgrim
was come, and on him should be discharged the whole vials of his wrath.
He will neither play the guitar, nor sing, nor whistle today.

Pilgrim came in, and said, "Good morning, Herr Lenz."

"The same to you, Herr Pilgrim."

"Herr Lenz, I come to you instead of going to church."

"I had no idea I was considered so holy."

"Herr Lenz, I come, not because I believe that it will do any good, but
still I shall have done my duty."

"It would be well if every one did their duty."

"You know your nephew Lenz--"

"There is no Lenz whom I care about, except the one I see there," said
Petrowitsch, looking at his wrinkled face in the glass.

"You know, however, that your brother's son is in distress."

"No, the distress is in him. This comes of giving way to the impulses
of a good heart, and having companions who encourage such weakness; and
whatever advice may be in opposition to this, is considered the mere
whims of a peevish, withered old man."

"You may be right; but wise speeches do no good now. The misery of Lenz
is greater than you think."

"I never tried to fathom its depth."

"In one word, I have the greatest fear that he may make away with
himself."

"That he did long since. A man who marries so stupidly makes away with
his life."

"I don't know what more to say. I thought I was prepared for
everything; but not for this. You are worse, and yet different, from
what I thought."

"Thanks for the compliment. It is a sad pity that I can't hang it round
my neck as an order of merit, like the Choral Society."

The good humoured, merry Pilgrim stood before the old man, looking as
foolish as a swordsman whose blade is made to fly out of his hand at
each attack.

Petrowitsch feasted on this spectacle, and crammed a large piece of
sugar into his mouth. Then he said, smacking his lips, "My brother's
son followed his own devices, and it would not be fair on my part, were
I to deprive him of the harvest he so richly deserves. He has
squandered his life and his money, and I have no power to restore
either."

"Indeed you have, Herr Lenz! His life, and that of his family, can yet
be saved. All discord in the house will cease when they are once more
at ease, and free from care and anxiety. The proverb says, 'Horses
quarrel over an empty manger.'