Annele had but half heard him. "Who could have said so if it were not Pilgrim?"
"No one. I have only feared so sometimes myself."
"I don't believe that. Some one put it into your head. But you ought not to have repeated it to me. I might tell what persons have said to me about you,--persons you would never suspect of speaking so. You have your enemies, like the rest of us, but I know better than to make you uncomfortable by repeating their stupid talk."
"You only say that to pay me back. It is all fair; I have deserved it. But now we are quits, and let us be merry."
The two were, indeed, full of happiness again. Franzl in the kitchen often moved her lips, as she was wont to do when thinking to herself. That is natural and right; thank God they feel so. Such would have been my life with Anton, if he had not proved faithless, and married a black woman!
On Sunday morning Lenz said, "I had quite forgotten to tell you that I had invited a guest to dinner with us today. You have no objection?"
"No; who is it?"
"My good Pilgrim."
"You should have invited your uncle too; it would be no more than proper."
"I thought of it, but did not venture to, he is such a queer man."