ce of such a thing; the wood is already sold;
but they have only a right to cut down one half of it. The wood is the
only safeguard for your house, no one living has a right to cut it down
altogether. We will soon show this famous wood merchant from
Trenzlingen that we are the masters on that point."

"But my house! my home!" exclaimed Lenz; he felt as if it was about to
fall down, and he must rush home to save it.

"Your home! you certainly are not very much at home in this matter,"
said Petrowitsch, laughing at his own wit. "Go to the mayor and put in
your claim. Only one thing more, Lenz; I never will again place faith
in any man living; I told you on a former occasion, that your wife was
the only good one of the family. You see I was not deceived about the
two others. I now tell you that your wife knew it long ago, ay, for
years past she knew beyond a doubt how her father's affairs stood, and
you were the cat's paw, because the doctor's son-in-law, the Techniker,
would have nothing to do with her, and he was quite right too."

"Uncle, why do you tell me that just now?"

"Why? because it is true. I can bring forward witnesses to prove it."

"But why now?"

"Is there any time when we ought not to tell the truth? I always
thought that you and your Pilgrim had been two such heroic persons. I
will tell you what you are. No man could be poorer than you, even
before you lost your money, for you were always fretting and grumbling,
and nothing can be more despicable than such a man; his sack must
always have a hole in it. Yes, you are a regular grumbler, always
regretting what you did the day before, and thinking, 'Oh! how
unfortunate I am, and yet I meant well!'"

"You are very hard on me, uncle."

"Because you are too soft and yielding in your ways. Pray be firm and
manly for once, and don't let your wife suffer; treat her kindly, for
she is now far more miserable than you."

"You think so?"

"Yes. Annele of the Lion, once so proud, will feel it a sad blow, when
she can no longer think that every one is proud of her saying good
morning to them."

"She is no longer Annele of the Lion, she is my wife."

"Yes, before God and man; she was your own free choice; I did my best
to dissuade you!"

Lenz hurried to the doctor, who was also the chief magistrate, but did
not find him at home; his way seemed to lie through thorns that tore
and lacerated him; good friends were not at home, and malicious people
now freely