els
in heaven must rejoice, when they see how these two live together. You
know I am from Knuslingen: no one can take me in; and though I don't
wish to boast, I am pretty sharp, and see more than most people. At
first they were still a little afraid of each other, like a house that
has been burnt down--the moment you dig in it, the flames are apt to
burst out afresh. They were alarmed lest any thoughtless word should
tear open an old wound, until they by degrees gradually discovered that
each was changed for the better, and mutually loved each other dearly;
and what they used to imagine malice, and ill temper, irritating both
so grievously once upon a time, they found to be only sorrow, at not
having fallen on the right mode of making each other happy. All
thoughts of keeping an inn are at an end with Annele; and I must say my
Lenz has become much more manly and energetic. The Choral Society is
changed into a Polytechnic; and they all say that Lenz appears there to
the greatest advantage, for he is very clever. They have some office
there: I can't quite explain what it means--but it is something to
benefit everybody. My Lenz is the head, and he is called Master of the
Union. When you see the Balancemaker from Knuslingen, he can tell you
all about it better than I can, for he is a member also. Do you know
that my Lenz had a fine silver medal sent to him from England,
because his musical clock won the prize at the Great Exhibition? And
when he showed the medal to Annele, he said: 'I am so happy for your
sake, because it shows you I can do something.' Then she cried, and
said--'That is a shred from our buried life--never wake it again. I
need no testimonial of your merits from others: I can give you the best
myself.'

"When she spoke thus, he looked up to his mother's picture, and said;
'Mother I you may rejoice in heaven, for we are happy!'"

Kathrine heard this good report with sincere pleasure. Franzl, however,
was like a wound-up piece of clockwork. She continued:--"And did you
hear what we inherited from Petrowitsch? Nothing but his dog, who will
neither eat a morsel of potato, nor a bit of bread: he should soon
learn to do so, I can tell him; but my Lenz is far too good to the dog,
and says he saved little Marie's life. So not one kreuzer did we
inherit from our rich uncle. The Doctor, it seems, said so long ago. He
was in some Sickly Insurance, I think they call it, or some such name,
and had nothing but a good an