espele loved the boy, and when he was tired
of playing with his toys, he could always amuse him by talking to him.

For a year past he had repeatedly promised to give Joseph a dog, and
the boy was now very speculative as to what the animal was to be like,
and what tricks it was to be taught. Haespele had one capital pretext
for delay, which was that he would have to search some time before he
could find a dog exactly answering Joseph's description; for it was
sometimes large, and sometimes small; at one time it had four white
paws, at another all brown; at one moment it was to be a wolf dog, and
the next a Spitz.

In the meanwhile Leegart was talking to Martina, and could not
comprehend why Martina was not more eager to ascertain whether her
deadly foe had not at length quitted the world. She urged her to go to
the Parsonage to inquire what state the Roettmaennin was in.

"You know very well," said Martina, "that formerly our Pastor was
always glad to see me in his house, but not now. I can't go there
without some pretext when he is at home."

"Very well; in that case, go to my house; and on the chest of drawers
with the mirror above it you will find a china soup tureen, and in it
three nightcaps, which I have just made for the Pastor's wife. Take
them to her from me, and then you will hear how matters stand."

Martina did as she told her.

CHAPTER VIII.
WARM AND SNUG IN THE PARSONAGE.

Can there be such a thing as a holy feast for a woman like the
Roettmaennin? Can there exist a human being doomed one day to leave this
world, without ever having felt the joyful sensation of being happy, or
of having contributed to the happiness of others? That there are such
persons, cannot fail to cast a dark shadow on the earth, and must
prevent anyone feeling unalloyed gladness of heart.

These were the reflections floating in the mind of the Pastorin, as she
sat at the window. Soon, however, she chased away all such shadows, and
her soul became as bright as the morning of this joyous and holy
festival, which is a ray emanating from eternity.

She arose and went through the house, like a gentle hushed spirit. The
approaching feast day, and also the thought that her brother was with
her, shed such lustre and gladness on her whole being, that everything
seemed to smile on her; and while she prepared a good breakfast for her
brother, who was sure to return very hungry f