replied as a soft smile stole through the cloud of sorrow which
overcast her beautiful features.
‘‘ But a person can cross the mountain from Bischofsroda in
two hours or at the most in three,” he answered.
“And he is not here yet,” she said with a deep sigh,
promised faithfully that he would come. ’ ’
“ Then he will certainly come,” Arnold assured her, “for a
man must have a heart of stone if he can break a promise with
you, and surely Heinrich has not. ’ ’
“ No, lie has not, but I must hurry home now or father will
scold. ’ ’
‘ ‘ And where is your home ?’ ’
“ Down in the valley. Listen to the church bell; services are
over now.”
Arnold listened, and not far distant he could hear the slow
tolling of a bell, but the tones were sharp and discordant, and
when he looked in the direction whence the sounds came, he saw
that that part of the valley was covered with a thick mist.
“ Your bell is cracked,” laughed he, ‘‘ it rings disagreeably.”
“ I know that it has not a melodious tone,” she replied, “ and
we would have had it recast, but the time and money have always
been lacking and there is no bell maker near here. It serves its
purpose well enough.”
‘ ‘ What is your village called ?’ ’
‘ ‘ Germelshausen. ’ ’
“ And can I go to Wichtelhausen from there?”
“ Very easily; it should not take you more than half an hour.”
“ Then I will accompany you, my dear, and if you have a good
inn in the village I will eat lunch there. 1 ’
“ It is even too good,” she replied as she glanced back to see if
Heinrich were yet in sight.
“ And is it possible for an inn to be too good?”
"Yes, for the peasants,” she answered earnestly as she walked
slowly at his side, “ for they waste their evenings there.”
‘But I will not tarry until evening. ’ ’
“ It is different with city folks; they do not work anyway and
therefore do not really waste their time, but the peasants must
earn their bread.”
‘‘You are mistaken; we must also work.”
“ But your hands do not look as if you work.”
GERMELSHAUSEN
‘‘ and he