"Good day, Rudolph. Well, how goes it? I mean with the day-laborers. All quiet?"
"Oh, yes! Nobody has made any disturbance as yet."
"You shall see, about the geese," interposed young Jochen.
"Eh, father, never mind the geese!" said Rudolph.
"What is it about the confounded geese?" inquired Bräsig.
"Oh, nothing," said Rudolph. "You see, last year, I got so provoked, first with keeping them in bounds, then with their plucking the grass in the meadow, and afterward they got into the grain, so I called all the laborers together, and promised every one four thalers, at harvest, if he would give up the goose business, and they accepted the offer, and now father has got it into his head that the people consider him a tyrant, and that a rebellion will break out, on account of the old geese."
"You shall see, Rudolph, the geese----"
"Good gracious!" cried Frau Nüssler, coming into the room, "always at the geese!" and, throwing herself into a chair, she put her apron to her face, and began to weep bitterly.
"Good heavens, mother, what is the matter?" exclaimed Rudolph, running up to her. "What has disturbed you so?"
"What shall I do about it?" asked Jochen, and he also stood up.