r, a safeguard against the snow, or a
landslip of the hill itself, falling on our house and burying it."

"Why do you talk to me about such things? What are they to me?"

"I don't understand you."

"Nor I you. In my situation you should not imagine such dreadful
possibilities."

"Very well, then I will sing you something, and if anyone hears us, so
much the better."

Lenz and Annele went homewards, singing, and soon a visitor arrived: it
was the Landlord himself. He took his son-in-law aside into another
room, and said:--

"Lenz, I can do you a service."

"I am glad to hear it. I shall be glad to learn what it is."

"Has the bailiff still got your money?"

"He paid me four hundred gulden, but I spent part of it in furnishing."

"Hard cash is now the thing; you can make a good profit by it."

"I will call it up from the bailiff."

"That would take too long. Give me a bill for the sum, I will invest it
for you and you will gain five-and-twenty per cent."

"Then we must share it."

"I wish you had not said that. I intended that you should have had all
the gain yourself, but I must say you are an honest man."

"Thank you, father-in-law, I do my best. I don't like to accept
presents."

"Perhaps it would be better still if you left the money in my business,
and whatever I make by it shall be yours."

"I don't understand your business; I prefer taking my steady
percentage."

When her father returned into the sitting-room, Annele brought in
refreshments, but the Landlord wished to decline them and to go away
immediately. Annele however pressed him to remain, saying:--

"It is your own wine, father. Do sit down for a little; we see you so
seldom now."

No chair in the Morgenhalde seemed substantial enough to bear the
weight of the Landlord's dignity, so he drank a glass of wine standing,
and then went down the hill, holding his hand on the breast pocket of
his coat.

"How strange my father is today," said Annele.

"He has important business on hand,--I have just given him my two
thousand six hundred gulden that I had placed with the bailiff."

"And what did he give you in return?"

"I don't know what you mean--nothing; I will ask him for a receipt some
day, when I have an opportunity, because this is customary."

"If you had asked my advice, I should have told you not to have given
the money."

"What do you mean, Annele? I shall never take anything amiss in future,
when I see that you distrust