Thoma was still in the harvest field when Landolin came into the
living-room. His wife sat down beside him, and he said:
"You can't think how different food tastes when one has to eat it
alone, in prison."
"Don't let your thoughts run back to that all the time."
"Has any one been here to see me?"
"No. But remember what you said last night."
Yes, that was easily said; but Landolin could not help thinking of the
people outside, and how it could be possible that they were not at
least curious to look at him again.
He looked out of the window. Heavily laden grain-wagons passed by, but
no farmer, no servant, so much as gave a glance toward his house. The
new bailiff came up the road, steadying the wagon with his pitchfork.
He had evidently seen Landolin from a distance; for, not far from the
house, he walked to the other side of the wagon, where he could not be
seen.
Landolin drew back into the room, and seating himself in the great
arm-chair he drummed awhile on its arms, then went into the bedroom and
pulled on his high boots.
"You're not going out?" said his wife. He looked at her in
astonishment. This questioning, this observation of all he did or left
undone, was distasteful to him. He was about to say so to his wife, but
checked himself, and explained that in prison he had worn slippers, and
he felt like putting on his boots again, and going out.
The cracking of a whip was heard in the yard.
It was Peter on the saddle horse, driving the four-horse grain-wagon.
Landolin went out, and met Thoma with sunburnt face following the
wagon. For a while she looked at her father in silence, as though she
could find nothing to say. Her look was severe and gloomy.
"Good morning, Thoma."
"Good morning, father," she replied. A milder frame of mind seemed to
gain predominance as she looked on her father's care-worn face, but she
threw back her head as if to shake off the gentle feeling. Now that
father and daughter met in the clear light of day, they seemed
unfamiliar--yes, almost strange in appearance to each other. To Thoma
her father appeared smaller in size than she remembered him; and the
self-confident, defiant expression of his face had become uncertain and
timorous.
On the other hand Thoma had grown stronger, prouder, more erect in her
carriage; her eyebrows seemed to have sunk lower; and between them
deep, narrow wrinkles had been traced. These are furrows from which a
bitter harvest springs.
"Good morning, master," was the greeting of the head-servant Tobias, in
a confidential tone. "You will find everything, the stock and the
fields, in good condition."
Landolin only nodded. So Peter had not yet dismissed the head-servant;
perhaps he will not do it.
Landolin spoke to the servant who had been taken in Fidelis' place; and
asked him, condescendingly, from what district he came, and in whose
service he had previously been. The servant answered respectfully, and
Landolin was reassured. Peter had evidently not announced that he was
now to be master, and Landolin was almost grateful for this deference,
which in reality was simply what was due to him. He went through the
stables, and found everything well cared for. A maid, who was singing
as she filled the racks with fresh clover for the cows, did not stop
her song when she saw him. He looked at her in astonishment, and asked
at length, "Why do you not speak to me?"
"Because I've hired out to the Gerlach farmer, and the other two maids
are going too."
"Why?"
"Peter has dismissed us; but we would have gone anyway."
Landolin went into the yard again, and while he unfastened the dog's
chain and patted him, he said,
"You'll not forsake me, will you?" He pushed the dog's jaws apart, to
look into his mouth. "You must be happy! they have broken out my teeth.
I can bite no more, and people are no longer afraid of me. Come; hold
still, while I put a spiked collar round your neck. I must have
something of the kind for myself."
He went in and sat down in his arm-chair. The dog lay on the floor
beside him. Strange! The chair is not so easy as it used to be--the
seat is hard, the back too straight! But, notwithstanding this,
Landolin forced himself to stay quietly at home. He felt sure that
somebody or other would call, if only as they were passing. He
frequently looked toward the door; but it did not open, and no one
came.
Finally, when evening drew near, he went out of doors.