"As well as may be, boy. A little down, of course, now and then, with so much leisure for thinking of the troubles I helped to bring on our poor country." "Never think that, I pray you, Sandwirth! You tried to bring us out of them--and _did_. It was only that we were deserted by our natural liege-protectors." "Well, lad, don't speak against the powers that be. If God had meant us to prosper, we should have done so. His ways are hidden; but they're always good. And our Franzel has written me a noble letter--" "The Emperor!--_has_ he?" cried Rudolf. "Aye, that he has," said Anna, leaving the basket to fetch the lamp; "do show it to him, Anderl." "Why, how on earth did it reach you?" "Eisenstecken knew this place," said Hofer. "He's at Vienna now, and he sent the letter here by a trusty hand--one who knew the mountains." As he spoke, he drew the letter from his bosom, and placed it in Rudolf's hand. "Amazing!" said Rudolf, eagerly running through it, while Anna held the lamp to enable him to read. "Why, what prevents your accepting it?" "What should make me accept it?" returned Hofer. "What should such an one as I do at Vienna? No, no!--where the tree was planted, there let it fall. My country has been much to me, and I've no mind to desert my country." "Your countrymen burn to secure your safety. Dear Sandwirth, reconsider this!" "My sole thought," said Hofer, calmly laying his hand on the young man's shoulder, "is how to make a good end." Rudolf looked wistfully at him. He thought he seemed worn and wasted by anxiety and abstinence, and his heart ached for him. "Come," said he, gaily, "let us have some supper before we talk any more of these matters. I'm hungry enough, I can tell you; and I have plenty of news of one sort and another." "First about the dear children," said Anna, eagerly. "Theresa--" "Theresa is an angel," said Rudolf, hastily. "My mother says she never knew any one to come up to her--so thoughtful, and yet so tender." "Aye, that's just Theresa," said Hofer; "and a good daughter, Rudolf, will make a good wife, I fancy." "Sandwirth! you won't go from your word?" "A likely thing I should," said Hofer, heartily. "Come, let's drink to her," said Rudolf, anxious to get Hofer to take some of the sustenance he so much needed.