old honor; so he said:

"From you, Master of Justice, I am glad to receive commands. All
reverence is due you; and besides, you were my grandfather's dearest
friend."

He laid his hand on his heart, and hoped that Walderjoergli would grasp
it; but the old man looked sternly at him from under his bushy,
snow-white brows, and said:

"How is your wife?"

Landolin could scarcely answer. What did this mean? His health was not
asked after! Had his wife then suddenly acquired any peculiar
distinction? Did the old man ask after her only to avoid asking after
Landolin's own health?

He stammered out an answer; and the old man sent a greeting by him to
his wife, who was "a good, honest housewife." Landolin smiled. If
nothing is given him, still it's well that one of his family gets
something, for then he too has a share in it.

Landolin informed the bystanders that Walderjoergli's family and his own
were the oldest in the country, for theirs had been the only two farmer
families that had survived the war with Sweden. While he was talking,
he noticed that nobody listened to him; but he went on, and finished
what he was saying with his eyes fixed on the ground.

The judge's wife had approached, and Titus gained an advantage by
introducing her, and saying:

"This is the benefactress of the whole neighborhood."

Joergli took the lady's delicate hand in his large one, and said:

"I've heard of you before. You are a noble woman; it is well. In old
times women were not of so much account as they are now. But it is
quite right now. And is that your son? Did you not once come to see me
when you were a student? You have behaved yourself nobly."

He clapped the lieutenant on the shoulder, and every one was astonished
that Walderjoergli still talked so well, and knew everything that was
going on. It was considered a great honor to be spoken to by him.

Titus said very cleverly what an honor it was that Walderjoergli had
come to the celebration, and begged that he would ascend the platform
and speak a few pithy words to the assembly. The judge's wife added
that it would be a precious memory to old and young, to children and
children's children, if they could say that they had heard the last
Master of Justice speak.

Walderjoergli looked at Titus and the judge's wife with a penetrating,
almost contemptuous glance; for he was not vain, nor did he wish to be
considered wise, and play the part of a prophet; so he shook his great