"Everything was excellent. Come and sit down by me a little while, sister-in-law." "In a minute; as soon as I have cleared up. I cannot sit down with the things all standing about so." "You must have everything as neat and orderly as yourself." "Thank you for the compliment. I am glad you have not spent them all at the doctor's." "Come back as soon as you can; I've ever so much to tell you." After leaving the guest alone again for a while, the landlord's daughter returned with a piece of knitting-work in her hand, and took a seat opposite him at the table. "Well, let me hear," she said. The engineer told her how he had been accompanying the doctor on his daily round over the mountains, and could not sufficiently praise his wondrous insight into the life of the people. He found them as the doctor had described, industrious and pious, yet without bigotry. "We have been into three or four inns to-day," he said. "Generally, when you enter a country tavern of a summer's noon, you find some miserable creature besotting himself on a bench behind the table, half asleep over his stale beer or schnapps, who will stare at every new-comer, and brag and rail in some unintelligible fashion. It is a very common sight in other places, but I saw nothing of the sort here." "Our mayor, the doctor," said Annele, "shows no mercy to drunkards, and we are principled against giving to one." The engineer entered with enthusiasm into a description of the doctor's character. Wherever he went, the day seemed to grow brighter. His honest sympathy brought something like contentment even into the huts of the poor, while the confidence which his character as well as his words inspired everywhere imparted fresh courage. The girl listened in some embarrassment to this glowing description, and only answered as she pressed a knitting-needle to her lips, "O yes, the doctor is a true friend of the poor." "He is your friend too; he said a great deal of good of you." "Did he? That was because he was out in the open air; he does not dare speak well of me at home. His five womenkind would not let him. I must except the old mayoress, though; she is always kind." "And are not the others? I should have thought--"