to me a long separation; every moment to be expecting herself and a discovery, at which my heart throbbed, and yet, in this ambiguous case, a discovery without shame; for at the very beginning it was a merrier prank than any of those they had laughed at so much yesterday. Love and necessity are the best masters: they both acted together here, and their pupil was not unworthy of them.
But the maid came stepping out of the barn. "Now, did the cakes turn out well?" cried she to me: "how is your sister?" "All right," said I, and pointed to the cake without looking up. She took up the napkin, and muttered, "Now what's the matter with you to day again? Has Barbchen[1] been looking again at somebody else? Don't let us suffer for that! You will make a happy couple if you carry on so!" As she spoke pretty loud, the pastor came to the window, and asked what was the matter. She showed him to me: I stood up, and turned myself toward him, but still kept the hat over my face. When he had said something kind and bid me to stay, I went toward the garden, and was just going in, when the pastor's wife, who was entering the courtyard gate, called to me. As the sun was shining right in my face, I once more availed myself of the advantage my hat afforded me, and greeted her by scraping a leg; but she went into the house after she had bidden me not to go away without eating something. I now walked up and down in the garden: everything had hitherto had the best success, yet I breathed hard when I reflected that the young people now would soon return. But the mother unexpectedly stepped up to me, and was just going to ask me a question, when she looked me in the face, so that I could not conceal myself any longer, and the words stuck in her throat. "I am looking for George," said she, after a pause, "and whom do I find? Is it you,
- ↑ Diminutive of Barbara.—Trans.
