is hopes.

For two whole nights he had kept it up; but when, on the third day, the
harvest-home was buried with pomp and funeral solemnities, he could not
induce himself to join in this extravaganza also. Standing before his
door, he watched the procession as it passed up the street, preceded by
the band playing a dead march, sometimes interrupted by a whining chant
or dirge. A trestle, covered with broken bottles, glasses, and legs of
chairs, was borne solemnly to the height and there cast into a grave
and covered with earth, while the wit of the village expended itself in
funeral orations.

Joy and sadness came and went by turns in Johnnie's house, after the
harvest-home. Constantine was elected town-clerk, the teacher having
electioneered for him in public. Peace was thus restored between the
contending parties, and the College Chap made friendly advances to the
teacher. The latter, in the gladness of his heart, addressed him,
according to the German custom, with "thee" and "thou." Such an excuse
for drinking a "smollis" was not to be neglected. The new town-clerk
took the teacher's arm and dragged him by force to the inn, where the
toasts were drunk in the most approved forms, the "brothers hail"
standing arm in arm and clinking their glasses as they sang.

After these preliminary operations, the College Chap entered the family
council at home, and advocated the teacher's suit of Hedwig with his
usual eagerness and impetuosity.

The betrothal of the two lovers was solemnized with the accustomed
ceremonies. They plighted their troth to each other in the presence of
her father and brother, of the old squire, and of Buchmaier, whom the
teacher had invited in lieu of kindred or other friends.

When the transaction was over, Hedwig left her room with the
bridegroom--for to that name, in German parlance, he was now
entitled--and embraced him for the first time, saying, "I do love you
dearly,--dearly!"

They repaired to her grandmother's room, who was lying ill in bed, and
knelt down at her bedside.

"He is mine now, forever," said Hedwig. She could not say more. The
grandmother laid her hands upon them and muttered a prayer; after which
she said, "Get up, and don't kneel here: you mustn't kneel anywhere but
before God. Don't I tell you? I am the messenger who is to give them
notice in heaven that you have found each other. Teacher, what's your
mother's name? I'm going to her the minute I get there, and to your
fa