"We are prone to think that with a catechism of pure reason promulgated among the people it would be easy to convert them; but at every step we find ourselves upon the holy ground of history, and compelled to trace the footsteps of the past. Alas that our German history is so torn and disjointed! where shall we begin?"
He frequently called on Buchmaier also, and heard with delight the solid views, albeit at times a little roughly worded, of the squire. But the more intimate he became at his house the less kindly did he find himself received at Johnnie's. Even Hedwig began to avoid him, and her salutations became more and more shy and timid.
One evening Hedwig came to Agnes, weeping, and said, "Only think! that wild brother of mine won't allow it."
"What?"
"Why, the teacher to come and see me. He says if I am seen once more with the Lauterbacher he'll beat me and him to a jelly: you know he sulks because the teacher is friends with your father."
"Why, that is too bad! What shall we do?"
"Tell the teacher when he comes that he mustn't be angry: but he mustn't come to our house so much. I can't help it; I can't talk to him. I wouldn't mind it, if my brother was ever so wicked to me, but he might insult him somewhere, where everybody saw it; and if he did that I'd cry my eyes out."
"Make yourself easy," replied Agnes: "I won't tell him a word of all that, anyhow."
"Why not?"
"Why not, you crazy pigeon? Because I don't want him to think that the Nordstetten girls come running up to you the minute you whistle to 'em."