d standing.

Landolin and the Mountain-king treated each other like friends, while
at the same time they hated each other profoundly.

Presently they stood in the presence of a third person, to whom each of
them was bound to do honor. Pfann, the Circuit Judge, a man with a fine
countenance, wearing gold spectacles, was walking with his wife on his
arm, through the crowded fair, bowing here and there. He now came up to
the two men, and told them that on the next day they would be summoned
to serve on the jury.

"I'm sorry it cannot be arranged otherwise," he added, "but the next
term of court falls during harvest."

"It's always so," cried Landolin; "in return for paying high taxes, we
have the privilege of sitting for weeks at a time, nailed to a bench."

He thought that he had spoken not only with dignity, but with general
approval, and he looked around for signs of assent; but nobody nodded.

Titus, on the other hand, was silent, and his silence was more weighty
than Landolin's words.

"We may congratulate you," said the judge's wife to Landolin; "I
hear your daughter is to be betrothed to the miller's son, Anton,
of Rothenkirchen. He is an excellent young man, intelligent,
well-educated, and brave."

Landolin did not appear to be altogether satisfied with this praise,
and could not help saying, vaingloriously, even at the expense of his
future son-in-law:

"Yes, the young folks are so desperately fond of each other, that I
have given my consent. Thank God, I am able to take a son-in-law of
lower rank; and, indeed, he might have been an officer. But I must say
farewell; I have waited too long, they are expecting me at the
'Sword.'" He stepped quickly away.

When the Circuit Judge had found his way through the crowd to a quiet
corner, he said:

"There you have a sample of your honest-hearted peasantry. Utter
stupidity or cunning roughness is their alternative. The roughness hits
at random, without reflecting how the smitten feels the blow. Landolin
is not ashamed to belittle the brave boy his daughter is to marry,
merely to make himself appear bigger by his side."

"I still hold," answered his wife, "that the hearts of these people are
true, and are often better than their words and deeds. Landolin did not
really wish to speak disparagingly of Anton; he only wanted to set down
his old rival, Titus; for Titus, too, would have been glad to have
Anton for a son-in-law."

The judge was astonished at this n