had
always been good friends.

KORB.

Going to visit him? That is the first place I am going to. I have been
looking forward to it during the whole journey. He is a faithful soul
of whom the village has a right to be proud.

ADELAIDE (_warmly_).

Yes, he has a faithful heart.

KORB (_eagerly_).

Ever merry, ever friendly, and so attached to the village! Poor man,
it is a long time since he was there!

ADELAIDE.

Don't speak of it!

KORB.

He will ask me about everything--about the farming--

ADELAIDE (_eagerly_).

And about the horses. The old sorrel he was so fond of riding is still
alive. KORB. And about the shrubs he planted with you.

ADELAIDE.

Especially about the lilac-bush where my arbor now stands. Be sure you
tell him about that.

KORB.

And about the pond. Three hundred and sixty carp!

ADELAIDE.

And sixty gold-tench; don't forget that. And the old carp with the
copper ring about his body, that he put there, came out with the last
haul, and we threw him back again.

KORB.

And how he will ask about you, Miss Adelaide!

ADELAIDE.

Tell him I am well.

KORB.

And how you have carried on the farming since the general died; and
that you take his newspaper which I read aloud to the farm-hands
afterward.

ADELAIDE.

Just that you need not tell him. [_Sighing, aside._] On these lines I
shall learn nothing whatever. [_Pause, gravely._] See here, dear Korb,
I have heard all sorts of things about Mr. Bolz that surprise me. He
is said to live an irregular life.

KORB.

Yes, I imagine he does; he always was a wild colt.

ADELAIDE.

He is said to spend more than his income.

KORB.

Yes, that is quite possible. But I am perfectly sure he spends it
merrily.

ADELAIDE (_aside_).

Small consolation I shall get from him! (_Indifferently._) He has now
a good position, I suppose; won't he soon be looking for a wife?

KORB.

A wife? No, he is not doing that. It is impossible.

ADELAIDE.

Well, I heard something of the kind; at least he is said to be much
interested in a young lady. People are talking of it.

KORB.

Why, that would be--no, I don't believe it. (_Hastily._) But I'll ask
him about it at once.

ADELAIDE.

Well, he would be the last person to tell you. One learns such things
from a man's friends and acquaintances. The village people ought to
know it, I suppose, if a Rosenau man marries.

KORB.

Of course they should. I must get at the truth of that.