old master, and
ran round and round about him, wild with joy.

"That's a good dog," said Landolin. "Be quiet. You know me, don't you?
They said my hands were covered with blood; but you don't smell
anything wrong, do you? The only faithful thing in the world is a dog."

The tears on his wife's cheeks glittered in the moonlight, and he said,
turning toward her,

"Go in first!"

"No, you go first, you are the master. It was just such a night as this
when we came home for the first time after our marriage; then you went
first into the house. It seems like a wedding again."

She held out her hand for him. He gave it to her, and hand in hand they
went up the steps. As he entered the room, she sprinkled him with holy
water from the basin that stood at the door.

There was no one in the room but an old servant.

"Where is Thoma?" asked Landolin.

"She is in her bedroom."

"Tell her to come here; that I have got home."

"I called to her through the closed door, but she did not answer."

Landolin seated himself in the great arm-chair, and his wife gave
thanks to God that her husband sat there once more. She had often
doubted that he ever would again. Landolin looked at her, and it seemed
to him that she reeled to and fro, and that the room and furniture were
all in motion. He straightened himself with an effort, went out on the
porch, and knocked at Thoma's door. Nothing moved.

"Thoma, I am here, your father."

The door was unbolted and Thoma stood before him. In a constrained
voice she said: "Welcome, father!"

"Have you nothing more to say to me?"

"You never liked people to talk much."

Landolin took his daughter's hand, which she had not offered him.

"My child, do you no longer love me?"

"I should never ask a child such a question."

"My child, I am a poor man; as poor as a beggar. Do you understand me?"

Thoma shook her head, and her father continued:

"I have sinned against you all, especially against you; but now I beg
you to forgive me. Don't let me perish." His heart beat so fast that he
could not speak another word. As Thoma still remained silent, he turned
quickly away, and went with tottering steps to the living-room. He
listened to hear if Thoma would not follow him; but he heard nothing.

He looked at the table in the living-room, and asked:

"Is that a new table?"

"No, but Thoma had it planed because the holes were there."

Landolin remembered having stuck the fork in the table.