"Your plan of education would not even give the people new enjoyments.
What do you propose to give them? They have not the coarseness that is
necessary. Look there! Those boys who have been tiring themselves all
the week at harvest work, on Sunday play ten-pins and throw the heavy
balls."

The game of ten-pins was here interrupted, for the railroad train
rushed past; and the boys, who had evidently been waiting for some one,
hastened to the station, which could be seen from the Casino arbor, and
the company exclaimed:

"The Hollanders! There comes Anton Armbruster with the raft-drivers."
Powerful men descended from the cars; they carried cloaks rolled up
tightly on the axes over their shoulders. They came into the inn
garden, and soon sat drinking the foaming beer, surrounded by groups of
friends and strangers. The voices of the raftsmen were loud, and their
laughter sounded like logs rolled over one another. Anton sat with his
father, who had awaited him here. He had regained his old, fresh
appearance; but, from his manner, as well as from that of the miller,
it was easy to see that something had happened that was not to the old
man's liking. To be sure, he touched glasses with his son; but he put
his down again without drinking.

The judge's wife walked up and down the garden with the hostess; but
the latter soon went and said something to Anton. He rose and went
toward the judge's wife, greeting her politely. She gave him her hand,
and went with him toward the vacant promenade by the river side. There
she first gave him the lieutenant's greeting, and then told him where
she had been that day, and what she had experienced. She looked at him
closely and added:

"Thoma is soon coming to see me. May I speak to her of you?"

"Oh, certainly."

"So you did not become engaged in Holland?"

"No, indeed! As long as Thoma does not marry, I too will remain single.
It was very pleasant in Holland. They are very pleasant, hearty people,
and they have got over the stupidity of thinking that we Germans want
to take Holland. They listened to me attentively when I told of the
war, and the eldest daughter of our business friend said to me that she
could listen three days while I told about it."

"Did you like her?"

"Oh yes. She is a beautiful girl, and good-nature shines from her face;
but nevertheless she was not Thoma. As I said, I have not changed.
Look! There comes Peter of Reutershoefen with the wagon. Peter, what's