the complete macrocosm--is like some large, very ingeniously
constructed piece of clockwork-mechanism, which would necessarily come
to a stop in a moment if any hostile principle, operating wholly
involuntarily, were permitted to come in contact--in an opposing
sense--with the very smallest of its wheels."

"I don't know, friend Ludwig," said Euchar, laughing, "how it
is that you have come, all of a sudden, to adopt this wretched,
mechanical theory--which is as old as the hills, and out of date long
ago--disfiguring and distorting Goethe's beautiful notion of the red
thread which runs all through our lives--in which, when we think about
it in our more lucid moments, we recognize that higher Power which
works above, and in us."

"I have the greatest objection to that simile," said Ludwig. "It is
taken from the British navy. All through the smallest rope in their
ships (I know this, of course, from the Wahlverwandschaften), runs a
small red thread, which shows that the rope is Government property. No,
my dear friend! Whatever happens is pre-ordained, from the beginning,
as an essential necessity, just because it does happen. And this is the
Mutual Interdependence of Things, upon which rests the principle of all
being, of all existence. Because, as soon as you----"

However, it is necessary, at this point, to explain to the courteous
reader that as Ludwig and Euchar were thus talking together, they were
walking in an alley of the beautiful park at W----. It was a Sunday.
Twilight was beginning to fall, the evening breeze was whispering in
the branches which, reviving after the heat of the day, were exhaling
gentle sighs. Among the woods were sounding the happy voices of
townsfolk in their Sunday clothes, out for the afternoon, some of them
lying in the sweet grass enjoying their simple supper, and others
refreshing themselves in the various restaurants, in accordance with
the winnings of their week.

Just as Ludwig was going on to explain more fully the profound theory
of the mutual interdependence of things, he stumbled over the thick
root of a tree, which (as he always wore spectacles) he had not seen;
and he measured his length on the ground.

"_That_ was comprehended in the mutual interdependence of things," said
Euchar gravely and quietly, lifting up his friend's hat and stick, and
giving him his hand to help him on to his legs again. "If you had not
pitched over in that absurd manner the world would have come to