Veronica And Other Friends

ry evening his friend took the same walk at the same hour, he too discovered that he had a great deal to tell him, and to consult him about. The two accompanied him t

instinctively that this was the best thing to do. Dietrich, certainly, found out that his companions were not to Veronica's mind, when one evening, the three being so engaged in t

joined her; "if they had only straight-forward business on hand, why

e something to talk about, that we do

ew moments, and then sh

nd cannot be nice, and Jost is really bad; you can see that in his face. He never dares to look me full in the eye;

not what you think him; he is a good friend to me, and has already taught me a grea

, but it was plain that she

er evening, as the two friends sauntered along their homeward path, and in each young he

looked anxiously into the wood. She listened; she peered between the trees; all was solitude. The tree-tops, softly murmuring, rocked gently to and fro, and through the branches she saw the sunset glow. For the first time, the young girl entered the wood alone. It was quite dark,

ht I should be in time, but I could not get rid of those two fellows. I tried to ge

re you, D

here too. Jost did not care to speak of it on the open street, and so we went into the R

s pale as

she exclaimed in evident distress. "Oh, don't

, laughing, "you have taken some foolish whim into your head; you really don'

nt with mother to the doctor's, but you didn't go into the house, I remember now. Mother told the doctor that my father was killed at the Rehbock. I have never forgotten it since. I am constantly seeing him lying dead before my eyes; lying th

even more amusing than usual. Gertrude observed her silence, as they sat about the table, and looked anxiously at her. When they had separated for the night, Dietrich went into his mother's room to have a talk with her. He told her what Veronica had said, and begged her to reason with the young girl and urge her to lay aside these groundless fears which had taken possession of her. He represented to his mother, that of course he sometimes had things to talk over with his companions, and that there surely was no harm in their going to the Rehbock together for their conversations, and he begged her to make Veronica see the whole a

he came upon Blasi, who was lying in wait for him. Dietrich tried to pass him quickly, and to show him that his company was not desired, but in vain Blasi had not been waiting round half an hour to be turned off

e you paid me back, as yet, since you began to borrow of me?" s

ore he had done talking, Jost joined them

in a hurry on purpose not to miss you. I've just come from the Rehbock, and I told them to keep the littl

asp. "I haven't time, and I don't believe you have anything special to tel

ge. Something that you'll be glad to know. You are running away because of her, and it is something that will be good for her as

good?" he asked furiously. "Mind y

the young fellow over, he controlled h

h a hurry, I will not stop you now; only promise me to come over bye-and-bye for a few m

tion to that," said Dietrich, a

that there was no chance for him now, turned back wi

and to restore her to better spirits; but he found it impossible to efface the impression she had receive

t's words, that the affair touched her as nearly as it did him, had made their intended impression, and though it went sadly against his grain to know that Jost dared even to think about

y went at once into the little back room. Blasi was there, sitting behind a big empty bowl; indeed he never sa

," he cried out, "for w

ract the dryness; so he ordered some beer, and wh

that I don't care for those outside to hear

ly, for he knew of old that Jost was in the habit of rus

the one the landlord of the lion has in Fohrensee, and make himself a gentleman all at once? I know how; I know somebody who has explained it all to me, and I tell you, Dietrich, you have o

etrich rather contemptuously, for he ha

per. You have nothing to do but put some money down, a

our times,

re to win in the end, if you keep on long enough. It doesn't si

is surer of winnin

ll the skin off his hands; and with all the income you have, too! why in ten years you won't have as much as will build you a house such as you want, and it

was red w

alking about her?" he blazed out. "You have no concern wit

ose it never enters anybody's head to ask why you keep on working and

's another ready enough to do that if there were any chance for him," and he winked significant

f when ever we choose. But I don't see why we shouldn't like it, when we can earn so much with so little trouble, and w

d its occupant was urging the galloping

nd is still at it. He must be going to visit a very sick patient; he would not be

; sitting in a chaise behind a horse. It's another part

esides, we have our evenings to ourselves, while he may be kept at

working at all? Anybody but you would be grateful to me for the chance I offer you. I came to you with it because of our old friendship. I know plenty of fellows who would jump at the c

mor and increasing confidence in the coming good-fortune, he helped Blasi

one. She put by her sewing, and hastened to prepare for bed, as she must be up and stirring again by five o'clock. Presently she heard the outer door opened softly, and then closed from the inside. She blew out her light and gen

ved to be asleep long ago, had been visiting in secret the hated Rehbock. She sat some minutes motionless on her bed, in a kind of dull pain. Then she arose slowly, lighte

s thoughts were busy and he could not c

ult his mother? No, that would upset everything. He was sure that his mother was too firmly wedded to the o

Vero

ing, and who indeed loved it so well, that she could

it by his good fortune as much as himself. Why couldn't he go on w

ecided to meet Jost the next ev

n the morning, she found the breakfast

mother, "Dietrich will be dow

went towards the door, but turned bef

m to go to that dreadful place. He did not come home till one o'clock

at he had nothing upon his conscience. He said that he knew his mother would approve of his helping a friend in need, and not the less if in so doing he should also help himself. It was a scheme of this kind that he had been talking over, the night before. Jost h

ut this business, it was certainly a good thing to help Jost, who had received nothing from

ent business, and if you continue to work as you have done, you will be very well off in a few ye

said to himself that he was not going to do anything wrong, certainly not; but his mother's ideas were