who held the hind part of pig on her knees, and a
workman whose face was bandaged.

At times they looked at each other. If they chanced to catch each
other's eye, the Baron would at once look down, and Daniel, bored as he
was, would gaze out of the window at the rain. But there must have been
something unusually communicative and mutually intelligent in the few
glances with which they involuntarily honoured each other during the
journey; for when the train pulled into the station, they left together,
and walked along the street quite peacefully, side by side, just as if
it were to be taken as a matter of fact that they would remain in each
other's company.

Man is a gregarious animal; given the right conditions, one man will
seek out the company of another. Neither defiance nor reserve is of the
slightest avail; there is something that conquers the strongest man when
he finds another who will yield. Then it is that what was formerly
regarded as contentment with loneliness is unmasked and shown to be
nothing more than ordinary self-deception.

"I presume you wish to go home and change your clothes," said Eberhard,
standing on the street corner.

"I am already dry," said Daniel, "and I really have no desire to go
home. Over there on Schuett Island is a little inn called the Peter
Vischer. I like it because it is frequented only by old people who talk
about old times, and because it is situated on a bridge, so that you
have the feeling you are in a ship floating around on the water."

Eberhard went along. From eight o'clock till midnight they sat there
opposite each other. Their conversation was limited to such remarks as,
"It is really quite comfortable here."--"It seems to have stopped
raining."--"Yes, it has stopped."--"That old white-bearded man over by
the stove who is doing so much talking is a watchmaker from Unschlitt
Place."--"So? He looks pretty husky."--"He is said to have fought in the
battle of Woerth."--And so their remarks ran.

When they separated, Eberhard knew that Daniel would again be at the
Peter Vischer on Wednesday of the following week, and Daniel knew that
he would find the Baron there.

X

Philippina was on her knees by the hearth, cleaning out the ashes;
Eleanore was sitting by the kitchen table, adding up the week's expenses
in a narrow note-book.

"You ought-a git married, Eleanore," said Philippina, as she blew on a
hot coal, "'deed you ought; i