"Have you been next door?" the worms inquired. "The wood is hard yet."
The first worm answered, "No!"
"He wants to keep that morsel for himself," said Pluizer softly to Johannes.
They went farther. Pluizer explained things and pointed out to Johannes those whom he had known. They came to a misformed face, with staring, protruding eyes, and thick black lips and cheeks.
"This was a stately gentleman," said he gaily. "You ought to have seen him—so rich, so purse-proud and conceited. He retains his puffed-up appearance."
And so it went on. Besides these there were meagre, emaciated forms with white hair that reflected blue in the feeble light; and little children with large heads and aged, wizened faces.
"Look! These have grown old since they died," said Pluizer.
They came to a man with a full beard, whose white teeth gleamed between the drawn lips. In the middle of his forehead was a little round black hole.
"This one lent Hein a helping hand. Why not a bit more patient? He would have come here just the same."
And there were still more passages—recent ones—and other straight forms with rigid, grinning faces, and motionless, folded hands.