To-day a public examination took place in the school. The dean from the
capital was here. He seemed well satisfied with the religious teaching;
as to the rest, he shook his head. On arriving, he greeted me politely;
on leaving, he did not see me.
I often sit a long time up in the burial-ground under the old trees.
This grove has been preserved from the great forest, and here the parish
is being gathered, thus making another link in the chain of human
history. I may sit here as long as I please, no one will call me.
Would that the dead did not sleep so soundly!
I am an old spy. My eyes are weak and weary, yet I sometimes see what
is taking place. Through the board fence I have just been observing
Reiter-Peter seize the hand of Schirmtanner's daughter and refuse to let
it go. By a thousand gestures he was telling her something; the blood
mounted to his cheeks, but the girl continually said: "No, Peter, no!"
Then the lad suddenly took his violin and played for Rosa, something
which I had never taught him. It was wonderful, and I did not suppose
that he could play like that.
He continued until Rosa finally threw herself into his arms, crying:
"Stop, it pains me so! Peter, I do like you!"
Young people are exceedingly demonstrative. If a lad has no voice with
which to speak, he declares his love on the violin.