, even though I entertained no affection for you, to leave you well
and very richly provided, since I have so much to thank you for. But I
should be glad to know, and I beg you to be perfectly candid to me,
whether you could be prevailed upon by the possession of a large
fortune to fix your abode in this country, in this house, or perhaps
would prefer settling after my death as a rich man in the neighbouring
town, engaging in some other occupation, and marrying, or, it may be,
travelling about in search of the home which you may like the best.
Tell me your thoughts on this subject now with entire sincerity: since
you have a claim, which I will take care shall be a valid one, to a
third of my property, I cannot well make my final arrangements till I
have learnt your intentions: for my establishments here and up the
mountains, my manufactories, machines, mines, and various
institutions, I also look upon as my children, and they must not be
left orphans at my death."

Edward sank still deeper in thought. Never could he have expected this
generosity and fatherly love from the old man; never had it occurred
to him that this friend might one day make him rich and independent.
This speech had changed the footing on which he stood with Herr
Balthasar; he thought he should now be better able to confess boldly
what for some days had been busying and disquieting his mind. He led
the way by an assurance of his gratitude, saying that what the old man
meant to do for him was far too much, that his relations after all had
still a title to his affection, and that a great deal less would make
him happy and as rich as he could desire.

"I am aware of all that you can urge to me on this score," said the
old man interrupting him: "these relations of mine, even the
scapegrace son and the good-for-nothing father, will be taken care of,
so that they shall not have any reasonable ground of complaint. But I
know that you have sacrificed the best years of your youth and
strength to me. To a gay spirit like yours, to a person of your lively
friendly temper, your long residence amid these joyless mountains must
have been anything but pleasant. You many years since bade adieu to
every sort of merriment and amusement: everything that charms youth,
music, dancing, even society, plays, travelling, the literature of the
day, you have given up for my sake; because you resolved, as I well
markt, and that too very early, to suit yourself entirely to my