hat's good! that's good!" cried the old Major, nodding frequently,
according to his habit; "you are the right kind of teacher! I am
seventy years old, that is, I am seventy-three now, and I've known many
men, and let people say what they will, I have never known a bad man,
one really bad. In passion, and stupidity, and pride, men do much
that's wrong; but, good God! one ought to thank his heavenly Father
that he isn't such as he might very often have become. Thank you; thank
you: you have lifted the enemy from my neck;--yes, from my neck; he has
sat there, heavy and--look, here comes the man himself!"

The collector was walking by the garden; the Major went to the hedge
with many nods and gestures of his hand; he hoped, perhaps, that the
man would utter the first greeting; but as this did not happen, he
suddenly called out, with a voice like the explosion of a bomb,--

"Good-morning, Herr Collector!"

The man returned his salutation and went on. The old Major was entirely
happy, and passed his hand several times over his heart, as if a stone
or burden were removed from it. Fraeulein Milch looked out of the
window, and the Major asked her to come out, as he had something very
good to tell her. She came, looking still neater than before, having
put on a white apron, in which the ironed folds were still fresh. The
Major told her that the collector was not to blame, for he had received
the St. Helena medal only in obedience to the government.

They went together to the house, and the Major showed his guest the
rooms where simple neatness reigned; then he looked at the barometer,
and nodded, saying to himself, "Set fair."

Then he looked at the thermometer screwed up by the window, and wiped
his forehead, as if he had not felt till then how hot it was.

A shot was heard in the distance, and the Major pointed out to Eric the
direction whence the sound came, saying,--

"I can hear the gun-practice from the fortress. I find that the
rifle-cannon have just the same sound as the smooth-bore. Ah, comrade,
you must instruct me in the new art of war. I don't know anything about
it, but when I hear them firing down there, all the soldier in me wakes
up."

He asked Fraeulein Milch to bring a bottle of wine, one of the very
best. Fraeulein Milch seemed to have it all ready; she brought bottle
and glasses directly, but gave the Major a significant look, which he
understood, and answered:--

"Don't be afraid; I know very well t