She raged most, however, against her husband, who, without saying a word to her, had gone in pursuit of his foolish son; he was sure to do something stupid, when he did not come to her for advice. Adam too was by no means spared, and she called him many names far from flattering, and not at all in accordance with bridal festivities. The miller's wife, however, was sharp enough to interpose, saying that the Roettmaennin was only in jest, because she knew that in truth no honourable titles were more than they deserved; and both women looked up in surprise when the bride said--"All that I heard Adam say, while he was sitting here with me, was kind, and sensible, and judicious." The two women burst out laughing with one accord, and said she was quite right; the Roettmaennin, patting the bride's shoulder, said that was the only true way to get round a man, for they ought to be under petticoat government; that men were good-for-nothing creatures, and that they were utterly useless till they had a good wife. She, however, said she made an exception in the case of her dear relative, the Forest Miller, who did not apparently appreciate this compliment; for he could only stammer when he tried to speak, and then coughed so violently that he nearly choked. The Forest Miller had committed a rash action in drinking fair with Speidel Roettmann, a competition no one had ever yet attempted without being punished for it. His wife was very much concerned about him, and prevailed on him to go to bed; she then came back to the room, and said--"Heaven be praised! he is sleeping quietly; he ought to know that no one is a match for Roettmann in drinking." Flattered by this compliment, the Roettmaennin said--"Take care that with such a cough, he does not delay making his will." "People say--God forgive me for repeating their malice!" said the miller's wife, "that the Roettmaennin is a malicious woman. Can any one be kinder than she is, in thus taking charge of a lone widow?" and then, as if this misfortune had already occurred, she looked quite disconsolate, and began to rub her eyes; as this was, however, of no use, she clasped her hands, and, looking admiringly at the Roettmaennin, continued--"And she thinks of my interests, and does not want her own precious son to inherit every thing." The Roettmaennin said she was obliged to her; but she was quite mistaken, for she had never meant anything of the kind. She admitted that her son deserved very little, but still she was not quite such a fool, as to wish to see money and land heaped on strangers, when it ought by right to come into her family.