very day before my
apprentices in the work-shop. I only lacked courage in Berlin. But do
you suppose it made any impression on these country block-heads?
Neither the absolute and the ablative nor realism had the slightest
effect--I might as well have talked to the walls! Of course, in such
stagnant water, people have no idea what the stream of the spirit of
the age, and purpose, and representation, and the French Revolution,
and self-government--you know what I mean, Frau Doctorin. But these
narrow minds! When I concluded and asked whether any one wished to
discuss the matter, only one man rose; he said he had not understood
me, I must explain what I meant more clearly. But Reinhold looked at
his watch and said it was too late for this evening; they could return
to the subject at the next meeting. But I clearly saw that he only
wanted to prevent me from interfering with his Buckle's civilization,
and therefore closed the meeting. He has grown narrow-minded, Frau
Doctorin, his wife and children and his business--everything else is a
matter of indifference to him. He didn't tell me as plainly as my old
wife did, but it amounted to the same thing--I'd better stick to my
last."

"It's your own fault, Herr Feyertag," replied Leah smiling, while the
old man took a pinch of snuff from his little box. "Why did you make
our friend so happy, by giving him the most charming wife in the world,
so that he's now far too well satisfied with his own little family
circle, to think of roaming about the world. Stay a few weeks here and
see how he provides, not only for himself, but for all who share his
labor, and you'll surely no longer be angry with him because he wants
to stick to his last."

Herr Feyertag's only reply was a shake of the head. Meantime they had
reached Leah's home, a low one story house in a side street, where
there was not even a light burning. The maid-servant had heard them
coming, and appeared at the door with a little lamp.

"When will your husband come back?" asked the old man sighing. "He, I
hope, will understand me, and make the matter clear to Reinhold, too."

"I'm expecting him very soon. But you must come and see me to-morrow at
any rate, and we'll discuss this subject farther. Believe me, dear Herr
Feyertag, you'll not accomplish much with Edwin either. We're so happy
in our narrow sphere, and he in particular, feels that without moving
from this place, he can influence the whole world--I doubt very muc