r wanted
you."

She arose and waved her hand to them, and then called out, taking care
they should not hear her:

"Buy yourselves dolls at the fair."

Anton remained seated, and a cloud passed over his face, for it pained
him that Thoma should greet them so scornfully.

A messenger came from the inn to say that Landolin had arrived. The
hostess met them at the door, and said:

"Your friends are all up stairs in the corner room. Good luck to you!"

CHAPTER IX.

The hostess of the "Sword"--it so happens that every one speaks of the
hostess and not of the host, and her husband seems to be quite
satisfied with it--this wise woman, according to a plan of her own, had
changed and enlarged the old inn until it was twice as large as before.
For, as soon as a spot had been fixed upon for a railway station, she
had a new building added on the side toward the river, with a large
summer hall and verandas, where the people of rank in the village could
hold their summer gatherings in the open air. The corner room of the
house, on the town side, she arranged especially for betrothal
festivities. There was a great mirror, in which people could survey
themselves at full length--to be sure not always an advantage. There
were colored prints of young lovers, of marriages, of christenings, and
of golden weddings.

At the table sat the miller and Landolin's wife, and waited long for
the farmer. The miller was annoyed, and Landolin's wife did not know
what to say, for she could not deny that her husband probably kept the
miller waiting intentionally, in order to show him who was the more
important.

The miller had an earnest, good-natured face, and a thoughtfulness in
every word and gesture. He had a high regard for the farmer's wife, and
expressed it to her. She looked down, abashed, for she was not used to
being praised, and became silent. The miller, too, ceased talking, and
whistled gently to himself.

At length Landolin's step was heard, and following him came Thoma and
Anton. Landolin shook hands with the miller.

"I have been waiting a long time," the miller said.

Landolin did not consider it necessary to excuse himself; he thought
people must be satisfied with all he did, and the way in which he did
it.

The miller poured out some of the wine which stood on the table, and,
after touching glasses, Landolin said:

"We have really nothing more to arrange. You know what division P