He got up and opened the closet, and I thought he was going to take out a bottle, but, instead, he handed me a thick square envelope with a big red seal. "Here, Joseph," said he, "is something that Brigadier Werner charged me to give you." I felt my heart jump and I could not see clearly. "Why don't you open it?" said Father Goulden. I opened it and tried to read, but had to take a little time. At last I cried out, "It is the permit." "Do you believe it?" said he. "Yes, it is the permit," I said, holding it at arm's length. "Ah! that rascal of a minister, he has sent no others," said Father Goulden. "But," I said, "I know nothing of politics, since the permit has come, the rest does not concern me." He laughed aloud, saying, "Good, Joseph, good!" I saw that he was laughing at me, but I did not care. "We must let Catherine and Aunt Gredel know immediately," I cried in the joy of my heart; "we must send Chaudron's boy right away." "Ha! go yourself, that will be better," said the good man. "But the work, Mr. Goulden?" "Pshaw! pshaw! at a time like this one forgets work! Go! child, stir yourself, how could you work now? You cannot see clearly." It was true I could do nothing. I was so happy that I cried, I embraced Mr. Goulden, and then without taking time to change my coat I set off, and was so absorbed by my happiness, that I had gone far beyond the German gate, the bridge and the outworks and the post station, and it was only when I was within a hundred yards of the village and saw the chimney and the little windows that I recalled it all like a dream, and commenced to read the permit again, repeating, "It is true, yes, it is true; what happiness! what will they say!" I reached the house and pushed open the door exclaiming, "The permit!" Aunt Gredel in her sabots was just sweeping the kitchen, and Catherine was coming downstairs with her arms bare, and her blue kerchief crossed over her breast; she had been to the garret for chips, and both of them on seeing me and hearing me cry, "the permit!" stood stock still. But I repeated, "the permit!" and Aunt Gredel threw up her hands as I had done, exclaiming, "Long live the King!" Catherine, quite pale, was leaning against the side of the staircase; I was at her side in an instant and embraced her so heartily that she leaned on my shoulder and cried, and I carried her down, so to speak, while aunt danced round us, exclaiming, "Long live the King! long live the Minister!" There was never anything like it. The old blacksmith, Ruppert, with his leather apron on and his shirt open at the throat, came in to ask what had happened. "What is it, neighbor?" said he, as he held his big tongs in his hands and opened his little eyes as wide as possible. This calmed us a little, and I answered, "We have received our permit to marry." "Ah, that is it? is it? now I understand, I understand."