"Had I known that, I should not have come either," he concluded; and the lady discovered what suffering he must that day have undergone; and with the most sympathetic expression of voice and countenance, she said: "Ex-bailiff, I have some good advice for you." "Good advice? that is always useful." "I think you ought to go away with Thoma for a few weeks. Go to a bathing place. It will do you good." "I'm not sick. There is nothing the matter with me. I didn't know that our judge's wife was a doctor, too." "You understand what I mean." "I'm sorry I'm so stupid, but I don't understand you." "Then I must speak plainly. Do you think that I desire your welfare?" "Yes, certainly; why not?" "You ought to go away a few weeks, and when you come back matters will be in a better condition. Other things will have happened in the meantime, and----You may believe me it would be well." Landolin shook his head, and said after a long silence: "I know you mean thoroughly well; of course you do; but I shall not stir from this spot. I'll stay, if only to fool the rest of them. Already the honorable Titus--the hypocrite!--has been trying to spread the rumor that I am going to sell my farm. I'll stay here and cry fie upon the whole country. We have owned our farm for hundreds and hundreds of years. You can ask Walderjoergli; he will testify." "I believe your word alone," said the judge's wife; Landolin nodded well pleased, for it did him good to be so readily believed, and he continued, in a clear voice: "Yes, madame, we farmers are not so easily displaced as the----people of rank. We at Reutershoefen are a strong stock; people may dig as much as they choose at the roots; they will not bring it down." All his pride arose; his sunken face became full; his form seemed to grow larger. The judge's wife did not know what more to say; and she would have been heard no longer, for a thousand voices cried: "Walderjoergli! The Master of Justice! Walderjoergli!" The cry spread, the girls and children on the further meadow took it up; crying, "Walderjoergli!" A man appeared, who stood head and shoulders above all who surrounded him. His head was covered with soft, snow-white hair; his snow-white beard fell far down to his breast, and his face, with its heavy contracted brows and its large nose, looked as if chiseled with an axe. "Hutadi! Hutadi!" screamed Landolin, springing up as if in a frenzy, and dashing into the crowd. "Hutadi!" he screamed, stretching out his arms, and clenching his fist in Titus' face. CHAPTER LII. "Be quiet, Landolin! The time for that has gone by," said Walderjoergli in a commanding tone; and laid his broad hand between the combatants. They stood still; but their chests heaved, and they looked down at the ground like chidden boys.