. Peter can take the farm
and pay you your portion. I think he has an eye on one of Titus'
daughters. I don't care. I've nothing against it. But I want to stay
with you the few years I have left; and when I die, bury me beside your
mother."

Thoma nodded silently; then she said: "I would like to let the judge's
wife know how matters are between us now. She has been very good to
us."

"That is very true; and we'll invite her to the wedding; and she must
lead the bride in the mother's place. Your mother in heaven will
rejoice in your happiness; she said so before, but she thought you
would bring Anton home with you then."

The bells rang, and Thoma said it was time to go to church, where mass
was to be said for her mother's soul. Landolin and his two children
went to church. Peter's silence couldn't strike any one, for no one
spoke a word.

When they came out of church, the clouds had disappeared, with the
exception of some small flaky ones that crept over the mountains.
"Thank God, the sun has come again," each one thought; and their
sorrowful faces brightened.

In the yard Peter separated from his father and sister, and gave
orders, in brief words, for every one to go into the field, to bind and
stack the oats that were cut, and put them up to dry; then he went into
the stable. Landolin soon came out and ordered a horse to be saddled;
for he wanted to ride to the saw-mill to see Anton and his father.

"Yes, father; but you can't take the bay mare: its colt is only a few
days old."

"Then let me have the black horse."

"Yes, father; but I really need him in the field, and----"

"And what?"

Peter shot a startled glance, perhaps also an evil one, at his father,
when he spoke these words so sharply, but he repeated them still more
sharply: "And what? Speak out. You could speak well enough a while
ago."

Peter was evidently struggling with his anger, when he replied, in a
calm tone:

"I don't know why, but the black horse isn't good for riding now. You
can't ride him."

"I can't? I can ride the wildest horse!" cried Landolin, lifting his
clenched hand; and going to the stall, he unfastened the horse.

Landolin had said these words with no double meaning, but because his
pride was hurt by the hint that there was a horse which he was not able
to ride. But Peter understood the words to have a different meaning; he
thought his father had meant to say that he should be able to get the
better of him again.