nd my savings, I could have met the sum. But
at three thousand, unless I have singular good fortune and the new
proprietor continues me in office, there is nothing left me but to
budge."

Otto's fancy for the place redoubled at the news, and became joined with
other feelings. If all he heard were true, Gruenewald was growing very
hot for a sovereign Prince; it might be well to have a refuge; and if
so, what more delightful hermitage could man imagine? Mr. Gottesheim,
besides, had touched his sympathies. Every man loves in his soul to play
the part of the stage deity. And to step down to the aid of the old
farmer, who had so roughly handled him in talk, was the ideal of a Fair
Revenge. Otto's thoughts brightened at the prospect, and he began to
regard himself with a renewed respect.

"I can find you, I believe, a purchaser," he said, "and one who would
continue to avail himself of your skill."

"Can you, sir, indeed?" said the old man. "Well, I shall be heartily
obliged; for I begin to find a man may practise resignation all his
days, as he takes physic, and not come to like it in the end."

"If you will have the papers drawn, you may even burthen the purchase
with your interest," said Otto. "Let it be assured to you through life."

"Your friend, sir," insinuated Killian, "would not, perhaps, care to
make the interest reversible? Fritz is a good lad."

"Fritz is young," said the Prince drily; "he must earn consideration,
not inherit."

"He has long worked upon the place, sir," insisted Mr. Gottesheim; "and
at my great age, for I am seventy-eight come harvest, it would be a
troublesome thought to the proprietor how to fill my shoes. It would be
a care spared to assure yourself of Fritz. And I believe he might be
tempted by a permanency."

"The young man has unsettled views," returned Otto.

"Possibly the purchaser----" began Killian.

A little spot of anger burned in Otto's cheek. "I am the purchaser," he
said.

"It was what I might have guessed," replied the farmer, bowing with an
aged, obsequious dignity. "You have made an old man very happy; and I
may say, indeed, that I have entertained an angel unawares. Sir, the
great people of this world--and by that I mean those who are great in
station--if they had only hearts like yours, how they would make the
fires burn and the poor sing!"

"I would not judge them hardly, sir," said Otto. "We all have our
frailties."

"Truly, sir," said Mr. Gottesheim, with un