p we
find ourselves upon the holy ground of history, and compelled to trace
the footsteps of the past. Alas that our German history is so torn and
disjointed! where shall we begin?"

He frequently called on Buchmaier also, and heard with delight the
solid views, albeit at times a little roughly worded, of the squire.
But the more intimate he became at his house the less kindly did he
find himself received at Johnnie's. Even Hedwig began to avoid him, and
her salutations became more and more shy and timid.

One evening Hedwig came to Agnes, weeping, and said, "Only think! that
wild brother of mine won't allow it."

"What?"

"Why, the teacher to come and see me. He says if I am seen once more
with the Lauterbacher he'll beat me and him to a jelly: you know he
sulks because the teacher is friends with your father."

"Why, that is too bad! What shall we do?"

"Tell the teacher when he comes that he mustn't be angry: but he
mustn't come to our house so much. I can't help it; I can't talk to
him. _I_ wouldn't mind it, if my brother was ever so wicked to _me_,
but he might insult him somewhere, where everybody saw it; and if he
did that I'd cry my eyes out."

"Make yourself easy," replied Agnes: "I won't tell him a word of all
that, anyhow."

"Why not?"

"Why not, you crazy pigeon? Because I don't want him to think that the
Nordstetten girls come running up to you the minute you whistle to
'em."

"He won't think any thing of the kind."

"But I a'n't a-going to run the risk of it. I won't say a word about
you unless he begins. Let me fix it: I'll get him round. Jilly wo gee!
And when he's pretty well buttered up I'll just slither him down a
little, and say, 'Mayhap I might manage to get Hedwig to our house of a
Sunday.' I'll see if the pears come off by shaking."

"Well, you may do as you like: you're your own mistress. But one thing
I beg of you, don't worry him: you see, he's one of that kind of men
that have a deal of thought about every thing; I've found that out well
enough; so he might be sorry, and lose his sleep."

"Why, who told you all that?"

"Oh, I only think he does, and I do so myself sometimes."

"Well, never mind: I won't do him any damage. These teachers are always
examining somebody else, and now I'd just like to see whether he's
smart or not."

"He is smart: I can tell you he is!"

"Well, if he says his lesson well, may I kiss him?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then don't look so solemn: love must