anger.

So the lady went up the hill. The church bells were ringing for the
noon-day service; but in her ears rang the sound of a bell whose metal
was not yet molten, and for which, who knows when a tower will be
built!

The lady's thoughts by no means hovered in the so-called "higher
regions"--quite the reverse. She thought of the nearest and most
every-day subjects.

As she stood by the road, she saw a four-horse spring-wagon coming down
the hill on a trot. A cow, grazing by the wayside, sprang, frightened,
into the middle of the road, and ran along before the wagon, terrified,
and with difficulty; at last the coachman rose in his seat, and hit her
with his long whip, so that she turned aside, stood awhile, staring
after the dust-enveloped monster with the four horses, and then went on
grazing.

Smilingly the lady thought that this might be given as an example to
the villagers. Turn aside, and you will be free from fear of what comes
rolling behind you, threatening destruction.

But one must not give country-folk an illustration from their own
immediate surroundings. Clergymen understand this; or perhaps hold by
tradition that only strange, powerful figures have any effect. This is
why they so like to speak of the storm-tossed ship on the sea, of the
palmy oases in the desert; when neither they, nor their hearers, have
ever seen either.

Engaged in these thoughts, Madam Pfann had reached the plateau, and
came in sight of Landolin's house. The shingled roof glittered in the
mid-day sun, and the tree on the east side was standing full of nuts.

Although Landolin, who was sitting on the bench before the house, saw
the lady coming, he did not move, but kept on cracking nuts in his
hand, and shelling out the kernels. Not until she had drawn very near
did he rise and say:

"Good-day, Madam. Will you not rest here a little while?"

"Yes; I was just coming to see you."

"May I ask what news you bring me?"

"Properly speaking, none. Or perhaps--I hope----

"Well! what is it?"

"I would like to talk with you in the house; not here."

"My wife, I'm sorry to say, is sick. It's nothing serious, but she
might wake up."

"Then take me to the upper room."

"If you wish, why not? But are you not afraid to be alone with a
murderer?"

"You must not say that word again; and no one else must. I hope to root
out even the thought of it from every mind."

"You'll have to use witchcraft," thought Landolin; but neverth