w more and more in the journey, so that at last it
was so long and so large, that it was more than sufficient.

The learned man then came home, and he wrote books about what was true
in the world, and about what was good and what was beautiful; and
there passed days and years,--yes! many years passed away.

One evening, as he was sitting in his room, there was a gentle
knocking at the door.

"Come in!" said he; but no one came in; so he opened the door, and
there stood before him such an extremely lean man, that he felt quite
strange. As to the rest, the man was very finely dressed,--he must be
a gentleman.

"Whom have I the honor of speaking to?" asked the learned man.

"Yes! I thought as much," said the fine man. "I thought you would not
know me. I have got so much body. I have even got flesh and clothes.
You certainly never thought of seeing me so well off. Do you not know
your old shadow? You certainly thought I should never more return.
Things have gone on well with me since I was last with you. I have, in
all respects, become very well off. Shall I purchase my freedom from
service? If so, I can do it;" and then he rattled a whole bunch of
valuable seals that hung to his watch, and he stuck his hand in the
thick gold chain he wore around his neck;--nay! how all his fingers
glittered with diamond rings; and then all were pure gems.

"Nay; I cannot recover from my surprise!" said the learned man: "what
is the meaning of all this?"

"Something common, is it not," said the shadow: "but you yourself do
not belong to the common order; and I, as you know well, have from a
child followed in your footsteps, As soon as you found I was capable
to go out alone in the world, I went my own way. I am in the most
brilliant circumstances, but there came a sort of desire over me to
see you once more before you die; you will die, I suppose? I also
wished to see this land again,--for you know we always love our native
land. I know you have got another shadow again; have I anything to pay
to it or you? If so, you will oblige me by saying what it is."

"Nay, is it really thou?" said the learned man: "it is most
remarkable: I never imagined that one's old shadow could come again as
a man."

"Tell me what I have to pay," said the shadow; "for I don't like to be
in any sort of debt."

"How canst thou talk so?" said the learned man; "what debt is there to
talk about? Make thyself as free as any one else. I am extremely glad
to