s in that way. Lisabeth," called he into the
kitchen, "my dinner."

The cook brought in a capital dinner, the Landlord quickly pulled off
his cap, said grace, and sinking comfortably into his easy chair, he
helped himself plentifully, and ate with the calm of a true sage. When
the second dish arrived, he looked up at his wife, and said:--

"You should also sit down; the best pair of horses to help you up a
steep hill, is a slice of good solid meat. Have they sealed up all our
wine, or can you get me some?"

"It is all sealed up."

"Then make me presently some good coffee, to refresh me."

Lenz seized his hair with his hands. Is he insane? How is it possible
that the man, owing to whom hundreds are at this minute in despair as
to how they are to live, can be comfortably enjoying his dinner? The
landlord was condescending and talkative, and praised Annele for not
also rushing into the house, and adding to all these useless
lamentations:--

"You have, indeed, a clever, industrious wife, the most sensible of all
my children. It is a pity she is not a man, for she has an enterprising
spirit; all would have been very different had she been a man. It is
much to be regretted that Annele is not at the head of some extensive
business; a large hotel would suit her exactly."

Lenz was indignant at his boasting, and his whole demeanour, at such an
hour as this; but he strove to suppress this feeling, and, after an
inward struggle, he said in a timid, almost humble tone:--

"Father-in-law, be sure above all things to take care that the wood
behind my house is not cut down. I have heard people felling trees
there all this morning,--this must not be."

The more mildly Lenz said this, the more vociferously the Landlord
exclaimed:--

"Why not? he who has bought the wood can do as he pleases with it."

"Father-in-law, you promised me that wood."

"But you did not accept it. The wood is sold to a wood merchant at
Trenzlingen."

"But I say you have no power to sell it; that wood is the sole shelter
of my roof. Some of the single trees may be cut down, but the whole
wood must not be levelled. This is the same state in which it has been
preserved for hundreds of years. My grandfather himself told me so."

"That is nothing to me. I have other things to think about just now."

"Oh Heavens!" cried Lenz, with emotion, "what have you done? You have
deprived me of what I value most on earth."

"Really! is money everything? I did