"If the devil comes, I shall be very happy to see him; I should rather like to have a talk with him," answered the Roettmaennin; "you are all fools. If you choose to truckle to others, do so; but a woman of spirit never gives in--nor will I--never--I would rather die!" The hobgoblin troop came nearer and nearer, and at last drew up at the mill. They did not come in, however, for in the stable was heard a woman's cry for help, and the wild groans and lamentations of a man's voice. Schilder-David had woke up, and could not find the child, and now he was rummaging among the hay seeking for him, and loudly lamenting; refusing to listen to Tony; indeed, threatening to strangle her on the spot if she did not instantly restore the child. Edward hurried into the stable, and Tony ran up to him, calling out "Help, help!" Schilder-David looked somewhat formidable by the light of the lantern, when he turned round, after plunging into the hay, which had adhered in quantities to his hair, covering his face and clothes. "David, 'he is all right and safe," said the young farmer Edward, in his pleasing voice. Schilder-David sank back into the hay. "Who is that stranger?" said Tony to Haespele. "The brother of our Pastorin." "Sir--sir," began Tony, "do tell David that his grandson is in my room, and Adam and Martina beside him. Pray say this to him, for he won't attend to me, he won't listen to a word I tell him. For God's sake help me; you are the brother of our Pastorin, and no doubt you are a good man, and I thought so when I saw you once before to day. Help the old man to rise." Schilder-David, who was now sitting in the hay, stretched out his hand to Tony, saying; "You are right, forgive me, and help me up." Tony and Edward each gave him a hand, and when Schilder-David was once more on his feet, he said, "You are two excellent people." Edward supported David on his left arm, and offered his right hand to Tony, he scarcely knew why,--and she gave him her hand, she scarcely knew why,--but they clasped each other's hands close. "I think I can now quite well walk alone," said Schilder-David, and the other two freed him from all the hay clinging to his clothes, and went with him upstairs. Martina gave up Joseph to his grandfather, but the meeting with her father was cut short by their all going to the next room together, where Haespele was heard laughing merrily. He proposed to play the part of an evil spirit, and in that way to convert the Roettmaennin. He thought this would be the best way to manage her. When Joseph came into the room holding his grandfather's hand, Tony said, "You had better not be here just now," and she took him back into the room, on the other side of the entrance. "This is the brother of our Pastorin," said she to the Roettmaennin, as she was leaving the room, presenting Edward to her. The latter now spoke in a very urgent manner to the Roettmaennin, who gave him no answer, but fixed her bright staring eyes on him.