back again into its original chaos.
If you had lived much among the lower classes, as I have done of late
years, you would believe me. We are still poor as a nation--our strength
is still small; but every year we are working our way upward, every year
our intelligence, well-being, and fellow-feeling increases. At this
moment we here, on the border, feel like brothers. Those in the interior
may quarrel, but we are one, and our cause is pure."

"Well done," said Fink, nodding approval; "that was spoken like a
thorough German. The wintrier the time, the greener the hope. From all
this, Master Wohlfart, I perceive that you have no inclination at
present to go with me."

"I can not," answered Anton, with emotion; "do not be angry with me
because of it."

"Hear me," laughed Fink; "we have changed parts since our separation.
When I left you a few years ago, I was like the wild ass in the desert,
who scents a far-off fountain. I hoped to emerge out my prosy life with
you into green pastures, and all I found was a nasty swamp. And now I
come back to you wearied out, and find you playing a bold game with
fate. You have more life about you than you had. I can't say that of
myself. Perhaps the reason may be that you have had a home; I never had.
However, we have had enough of wisdom; come and instruct me in your mode
of warfare. Let me have a look at your squatters, and show me, if you
can, a square foot of ground on this charming property in which one does
not sink up to one's knees in sand."

Meanwhile preparations were going on at the castle for the stranger. The
baron made one servant ascertain that there was a sufficiency of red and
white wine in the cellar, and scolded another for not having had the
broken harness repaired. The baroness ordered a dress to be taken out
which she had not worn since her arrival; and Lenore thought with secret
anxiety about the haughty aristocrat, who had struck her as so imposing
at the time of the dancing-lessons, and whose image had often risen
before her since then.

Below stairs the excitement was no less, for, excepting a few passing
callers on business, this was the first visitor. The faithful cook
determined to venture upon an artistic dish, but in this wretched
country the materials were not to be had. She thought of killing a few
fowls out of the farm-yard; but that measure was violently opposed by
Suska, a little Pole, Lenore's confidential maid, who wept over the
determined cha