"Your house? You don't seem to be much at home here certainly," said Petrovitsch, laughing at his own wit. "Go to the mayor and enter a protest. One thing more, Lenz; I never in my life again will believe in a human being. I told you then your wife was the only honest one in the house. You see I was not mistaken in the other two. But Annele knew of this all along. She has known for years, known to a certainty, the state of her father's affairs. You were the make-shift, because the doctor's son-in-law would not have her, luckily for him." "Why do you tell me this now, uncle?" "Why? because it is true. I can prove it by witnesses." "But why now?" "Is there any time when the truth should not be told? I thought you and your Pilgrim were such heroes of romance! But I tell you you were very nearly as poor as you could be before you lost your money; for a man so full of complaints and regrets has ever a hole in his pocket. You are always crying for what you did yesterday, and thinking, 'O poor me! and yet I meant so well!' A man who wants to be pitied is no man; only women beg for pity." "You are hard upon me, uncle." "Because you are so tender with yourself. Show yourself now a man. Do not visit this upon your wife. Deal gently with her; her sorrow is greater than yours." "You think so?" "Yes. It will be hard for proud Annele of the Lion to find that a greeting from her is no longer the honor it used to be." "She is not Annele of the Lion now; she is my wife." "She is, before God and man. It was your own choice; I warned you." Lenz hurried to the doctor's, who, as we have said, also filled the office of mayor; he was not at home. Thorns beset him on every side. His friends were not to be found, and his enemies let out all their secret venom against him, choosing his moment of helplessness to mock and torture him. He hastened up the hill again, past his house and into the wood beyond, where he ordered the wood-cutters to stop their work. "Will you pay us our day's wages?" "Yes." "All right." They shouldered their axes and went home. In the house Lenz found Annele embracing the children, and crying: "O my poor children! You will have to beg your bread, poor little ones!" "Not while I have life and health. I am the head; only be calm and pleasant!" "I have never been otherwise. You are mistaken, if you think that, because my father has failed, I am going to crawl at your feet, and let you do what you will with me. Not a bit of it! I don't give way an inch. Now show your boasted good-nature! Now show how you can support your wife." "I am most ready to; but how give to one with closed hands?"