METROPOLIS flrst time, of whither he had borne the girl whom he loved. "God is looking at us," he whispered, gathering her up. to his heart. with longing arms. "God is smiling to us, Maria." "Amen," said the girl at his heart. .
CHAPTER XXV JOH FnEDERSEN
came to his mother's house.
Death had. passed over Metropolis. Destruction of the world and the Day of Judgment had shouted from out the roars of explosion, the clanging of the hells of the cathedral. But Joh FJ;"edersen found his motber as he always found .her:
in the wide, soft chair, by the open window. the dark rug over the paralysed knees, the great Bihle on the sloping tahle hefore her, in the beautiful old hands, the figured lace at which she was sewing.
She turned her eyes towards the door and perceived her son. The expression of stem severity on her face became sterner and more severe. .
She said nothing. But ahout her closed mouth was something which said: "You are in a bad way, Job Fredersen... :'
And as a judge did she regard him. . Joh Fredersen took his hat from his head. Then she saw the white hair above his brow. ...
"Child-I" she said quietly, stretching her hands out towards him. .
.
Joh Fredersen fell on his knees by his mother's side. He threw his arms about her, pressing his head into the lap,
which had horne him. He felt her bands on his hair-felt how she touched it, as though fearful of hurting him, as though this white hair was the mark of an unhealed wound, very near the heart. and heard her dear voice saying:
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