ther distasteful to Judith as regarded
herself, but she liked it towards others. She had planned it all out that
Dietrich should marry Veronica soon after the confirmation, that they
should set up a pretty little establishment, and be her beloved neighbors.
She meant to be their intimate friend and helper, to go freely in and out
of their house, and to stand god-mother now and then. She would leave her
property to the little ones. Now all this fine air-castle was overthrown
and all her plans spoiled. Judith bounced violently into the kitchen and
set her jug down with such a bang that the water spurted up into the air.

"And no one can get a word out of her, either; it is exactly as if all the
oil had been burned out." This last remark referred to Gertrude, who had
greatly altered during the last few months. She had no longer the cheerful
expression that she had always been noted for. She had grown very quiet
and silent. She even avoided her old and well-tried friend Judith, and if
the latter showed a disposition to talk about her household matters or her
children's future, Gertrude would give her to understand that she had no
time to stop to talk.

Gertrude knew where Dietrich spent his evenings. She had expostulated with
him about it more than once. He had answered that he must keep on there
for awhile, till a certain undertaking which he had started with Jost was
fairly under way. He assured her that this affair was certain to turn out
all right, and that she herself would be surprised and satisfied at the
result. He knew from some one who understood it, that it could not fail.
He had to draw large sums several times for himself and also for Jost, but
he was sanguine that in a short time it would all be paid back, with
interest. Gertrude did not pretend to understand the business, but she saw
that Dietrich believed it to be safe and profitable, and she knew that her
son would not deceive her. Still she was haunted daily by a growing
uneasiness, which was not diminished when she perceived that Veronica was
gradually drawing away from her.

This state of things had all come about since that morning when the
girl's beseeching words had fallen unheeded on the mother's ears; or at
least Veronica believed them to have been unheeded, since they had worked
no change in Dietrich's behavior.

Why it was that every day as evening came on, she felt so miserably
anxious, Gertrude herself could scarcely understand. Poor Gertrude!