She praised the King as a God-fearing man; but to me he was simply a righteous German.
A happy change had taken place with Johanna's daughter. She had always been sickly, and had thought herself of no use in this world; but now she knew nothing more of sickness. She had determined to join a society which had just been organized by the wife of the Privy Councillor, in order to obtain instruction in the art of nursing the sick and wounded.
I was now again in my own calm and peaceful home. Rothfuss informed me that during my absence parties had been there to buy up oats and hay,--we still had a good supply left from last year,--and Rothfuss had promised the refusal of it to Kuhherschel, whom he always favored.
The old hay was sent off, and the new was brought in. In Carl's place we engaged a Tyrolese farmer. The early barley was harvested, the ground was ploughed over again, and the potatoes were dug up. How long would affairs remain thus? The enemy might break in on us the very next day, as we were very near the border. Our enemies claimed that they were fighting in the interests of civilization, but sent Asiatic hordes against us.
The schoolmaster's wife told us that Baroness Arven had left for Switzerland, taking a great amount of luggage with her.
I was determined to await the enemy in my own home, and when Johanna asked me whether she, too, could go to the city and try to be of some use, I consented.
"But you will remain with me, Martella, for you do not fear the French?"
"Oh, I am not afraid of them," answered Martella.
She had only answered the latter portion of my question, but I did not think of that until afterwards.