The Choral Society sang beautifully in church, but the two principal voices were wanting—that of Lenz and also of Faller.
Nearly the whole village, above all, the women and girls, were present at the wedding; those that were married were glad to hear again the exhortation to the newly wedded pair, and the unmarried wished to take a lesson how to behave when it came to their turn, which they fervently hoped might be soon. The women cried, and the girls glanced curiously round the church, and if Lenz had looked up, he would have met many eyes fixed on him.
After the ceremony was over Lenz left them, and went alone towards his home. At the hedge of the churchyard he was greeted by Kathrine, standing with a handsome young man, who, from his costume, seemed to be the son of a farmer in the neighbouring valley. She coloured as Lenz looked earnestly at her, and passed on. He next took off his hat in courteous greeting. The Doctor's two eldest daughters were walking on the road, and they wore neat laced boots, which their short dresses in the wet weather fully displayed.
"We really thought that you had gone on a journey," said Bertha, the boldest of the two.
"No; I have never left home," answered Lenz.
"Nor we either," continued Bertha. Lenz did not say a word.
"Are you engaged in some new great work?" asked Amanda.
"Both in new and old; in our calling work never comes to an end."
"Is it not very fatiguing, such incessant labour?" asked Amanda again.
"Oh! no; I don't know what I should do without it."