ear ungrateful; so he said, when he had swallowed the wheat, "Be
wise, Tobias."

"Wise? Who is master--you or Peter?"

"Peter," Landolin forced himself to say; and then turned away. It may
be that Tobias is treated unjustly; it may be. But Landolin must look
out for himself first. He thought he had burden enough of his own,
without bearing other people's.

He went up the steps and stood on the porch.

Peter was triumphant.

"Did you hear that? Now listen to something more. You may go to-day, or
to-morrow, or at this minute; the sooner you go, the better."

Tobias looked toward the stables, toward the barns, and toward
the mountains to see if they were not shaking. "So I'm sent
away--dismissed? I--by you?"

"Yes, yes, by the little boy you so willingly let play at being master,
just for fun. I've calculated what is still coming to you."

"What is coming to me? And what price have you set on what I have done
for you? For you, you acquitted man up there!--and for you, you----"

"If you want a witness fee, I'll give you four marks more," said Peter,
with a sneer. "We're not afraid of you. Go and say that you gave false
testimony, and see what you'll get by that. Father! don't speak--not a
word; he has to deal with me."

"Well, it serves me right: I might have known it would be so. The
stones that lay here then are now firmly bedded in the pavement; but,
Peter, mark my words: Stones will fly through the air at you, till you
are dead and buried. I am an innocent child in comparison with you. You
will suffer for this."

"Prophesy, if you like. You know from experience what a good prophet
you are. You understand what I mean."

Tobias groaned like a goaded bull; he pulled at his clothes; he
evidently wanted to rush upon Peter: but Peter stood still and lit a
fresh pipe. Tobias clenched his hands upon his breast, and, without
another word, went to his room.

CHAPTER LVI.

The wind whistled over the stubble, and when they awoke in the morning,
the first snow lay high upon the crest of the mountain. The powerful
autumn sun soon melted it, and laughing rills ran down through all the
little channels to the river in the valley.

It was St. AEgidius Sunday, shortly before church time, when Tobias went
to the farmer's wife, who was sitting in the living-room, and said:

"Mistress, I've come to say good-bye to you, and thank you for all your
kindness through these many years. You