e account of his wife's
illness was brought to him.

The doctor again sent word to Clodwig, that he had better remain here,
especially as it was raining very hard, and the Rhine was beginning to
rise; but Clodwig insisted on returning home.

Now the Doctor came himself, and begged the banker to drive with
Clodwig to Wolfsgarten, and Clodwig himself entreated this favor of his
old friend. The latter agreed at once, only saying that he would first
drive speedily to the town to send a telegram, that they need not
expect him at home until some further notice. He drove away.

Bella had gone to the green cottage to see Aunt Claudine, and behaved
there very amiably towards her and Lina; but she could not help letting
fall some severe expressions in reference to the Professorin and Manna,
who had so selfishly taken themselves out of the way whilst such a
terrible transaction was taking place in the house.

When a servant came and informed her that Clodwig wanted to set out
immediately, she exclaimed, stamping with her foot,--

"I will not!"

And then she added:--

"Very well, let him take me up here."

The carriage drove up; and Bella seated herself by Clodwig's side
without his getting out: he sat shivering in one corner.

"Why do you not ask how I am?" said he, in a feeble, trembling voice.

Bella made no reply. She was internally struggling; but suddenly she
exclaimed,--

"Foh! You ought all to be ashamed of yourselves! What are the whole of
you in comparison with this man? He alone is a man, he alone. Here is
something grand and strong among this lint-scraping, humanitary set.
You are all imbeciles, cowards! This Sonnenkamp is the only great man,
a strong man, a real man. Oh! if such a man"--

"Well? If such a man"--

"Ask me no more questions. I will drive home with you, home,--you have
the right to command,--what more do you want? Not another word,
not a word, or I shall not mind the pouring rain, not the least:
I shall jump out of the carriage, I shall go off, I don't know
where; but I won't be imprisoned any longer; I won't be banished
to your miserable, old, pot-digging, pretty-spoken, vaporing,
freedom-vaunting, humanity-gouged, world!"

"Wife, what are you saying? Are good and evil then"--

"Pooh! Good and evil, these are the crutches on which you lean, because
you have nothing to lean on in yourselves. A man must be strong, and
have good grit: whether he is good or bad is a matter of indifference