ure of the whole affair to her.
"Be composed," he continued; "the course of our lives here has suddenly
undergone a violent change; we must all overcome this shock, to get
back again into the path of our ordinary duty. A few days since you
were sorry that I was going away; if it can give you any comfort, let
me assure you that for the present at least I shall and must stay
here. Do you still wish that I should?"

She gazed at him affectionately and seemed comforted. "So then that is
settled now!" she exclaimed: "ah yes, I always thought you would stay;
for I can't live without you; and my father can't live without you;
and all our poor workmen and spinners, our good miners, for whom you
are always saying and doing something, and who, when they come for
their wages or for relief, look with their whole souls into your kind
eyes, these above all can never live without you."

"This calamity," said Edward, "may hereafter make you, your father,
me, and all of us happy. The discovery was inevitable; and perhaps, if
it had not taken place now, it would have come at a time when it would
have plunged us all in misery."

"If my father now," said Rose, "were to have no objection, I might
perhaps in time accustom myself to look upon you as my future husband.
If I could but feel a little more respect and awe for you! If you
would behave very roughly to me now and then, not always so kindly,
but angrily and savagely at times, I might by and by grow reconciled
to it."

Edward went to his business. The uprore had ceast, and the whole house
was now quiet and silent: it seemed as if people were afraid of even
breathing: all walkt about softly and on tiptoe. News came that
Eleazar was dead.

Toward evening Edward went with the mayor and witnesses into old
Balthasar's room. He was surprised to find him in bed. On being spoken
to by his visitors he lifted himself up, stared fixedly at them, and
seemed to know no one. "Aha! reverend Sir," he cried out after a
while, "you are come to fetch away a second poor sinner today. It is a
busy time in your vocation. Is master Eleazar come with you?"

He beckoned to Edward. "Thou yellow blockhead!" he whispered to him;
"what am I to do with thy gold bars that thou hast left me? don't
thrust thy stupid cheat into men's eyes so ... it is far too glaring.
But beware of Edward, he is wise and good. If he should ever suspect
thee, thou art lost."

He talkt to the others, but still quite at random, a