Veronica

by Johanna Spyri

  CHAPTER IV.

  ALL AT HOME.

  Dietrich had already worked for some time in his father's business. It wasall in the best possible condition; the work shop, the tools and materialshad been carefully kept up, and everything was fresh and in good workingorder. The old customers had not withdrawn their custom, for the formerworkman who had served under Steffan for many years had continued hisdeceased master's methods, so that the reputation of the work wassustained, and as Fohrensee grew, so also the saddler's orders grew, andthe business flourished. So Dietrich found his trade ready made to hishand, and as good a prospect lay before him as heart could wish. He tookhold with a good will, and being his own master did not make him the lessdiligent. He was determined first to work faithfully till he hadthoroughly learned the business, and then to travel for a while. When hehad seen the world a bit he would come back, go on with the businessfarther and farther, and become a gentleman; and then--then--where could ahappier man be found than he should be, living with his mother andVeronica in peace and plenty. His mother should pass her days in happyidleness if she wished, without care, without sorrow, in wealth andcomfort, and Veronica! Yes, he would give Veronica a life far happier andmore beautiful than she had ever dreamed of for herself! While his brainteemed with these pleasant thoughts, Dietrich sang and whistled at hiswork all day long, and did good work, too. He had a skilful hand and aclear head, and his work went successfully on.

  Veronica had persuaded her mother to let her stay longer in the IndustrialSchool than was usual with the young girls of the neighborhood. Even up tothe day of her confirmation, she had taken sewing lessons twice from amost accomplished teacher. A short time before Easter, the teacher hadassured Gertrude that Veronica had made such extraordinary progress, thatshe was already prepared to teach, and that she had completed the coursetaught at that school, and could learn no more there. Veronica certainlydeserved farther training and the teacher suggested that it would be wellworth while for her to take lessons in embroidery of lame Sabina inFohrensee. She would then be sure of a position as a teacher, as high asher utmost ambition could desire.

  It had always been Gertrude's plan to have Veronica learn to work at thesaddler's business, as there is a good deal of the fine work which issuitable for women, and which it needs a woman's hand to carry out. Shehoped that in this way her children could always remain together and withher. The fine embroidery for which lame Sabina was noted, it did not seemto her at all necessary for Veronica to learn, but she was willing toleave the decision to her. As soon as Veronica heard of this new work tobe learned, she was eager to begin upon it, and she left her mother nopeace until she extracted from her the promise that directly after theconfirmation, this new undertaking should be entered upon.

  A few days after Easter Sunday, Veronica went to take her first lesson. Itwas very early in the morning when she started to go down to Fohrensee; soearly that people were just beginning to open their windows, and only hereand there a sleepy face was to be seen at the door of a house. She had togo early in order to get in a good day's work, for she was to come home atnight, and it was an hour's walk each way. She knew well the old cottagewith the beautiful carnations illuminating its windows, which was the homeof lame Sabina. The windows were already open, and the door also. Sheentered and her new life began.

  Up in Tannenegg, Dietrich sat at his work, singing and whistling merrily.His mother, busy with her household affairs went hither and thither aboutthe house, from sitting room to kitchen, and then with the feeding-bucket,out on the grass plat before the house, where a flock of handsome fowlwere pecking about. All was still quiet in the neighboring houses, butover by the well stood the never-idle Judith, beating and turning herclothes as she washed them. Along the road with uncertain steps came theold sexton, swinging the big church-keys in his hand; he had been ringingthe early morning peal. As he lifted his cap a little to salute Judith atthe well, she called out,

  "Good day, neighbor, I was just thinking it would be a good exchange ifthe old folks were to lie abed at this hour and let the young ones pullthe bell rope."

  "Well, some one must be doing it," said the other, and passed on his way.

  Judith had been busy at her washing full two hours longer, when in thedoorway of the sexton's house appeared a young fellow, whose figure,almost as broad as it was long, filled the opening, with scarce anythingto spare. He tried to yawn, but there was not room enough to stretch hisarms, so he stepped outside for the purpose, and there he gaped soheartily that all the inside of his big mouth and throat was distinctlyvisible.

  "There's nothing in it, Blasi! I've had a good look at it," cried Judith."If you had been here two hours ago, you might have seen a sight. A girlwith a whole mouthful of gold! What do you say to that?"

  Blasi caught at this, and brought his jaws together with a snap.

  "What! full of gold?" he exclaimed, and opened his sleepy eyes to theirutmost extent. "Why doesn't the foolish thing carry it in her pocket?Where does she come from?"

  "That's no concern of yours. You will never come up with her," repliedJudith.

  "Tell me, for all that," urged Blasi, coming toward Judith, "I can goafter her, and I've no doubt I shall come up with her, and then there's notelling what may happen. Come, where did she go, now? Do you know hername?"

  "Her name is Early Morn, Blasi," said Judith pleasantly. "Did you neverhear the saying, 'There's gold in the mouth of the early morn.'"

  Blasi made a wry face and began in an angry tone,

  "There's nothing very clever in that"--but just then he remembered thatwhen he came out of the house he had intended to come over and saysomething quite different to Judith; so he changed his tone quickly, andsaid,

  "Can you lend me a franc or two; I have just time to do a little businessbefore eleven o'clock, and then I must be back to ring the noon bell; Imust try to help father, a little."

  "No, no, Blasi, I have no francs for you," said Judith decidedly. "Itwants three hours yet of being eleven o'clock. Use those big arms ofyours, and they'll bring you francs enough." And so saying, she lifted herclothes-basket on her head, and walked away.

  Blasi stood looking after her, a moment, then he sauntered off, with bothhands in his pockets, up the road towards, the shoemaker's old house.There sat Jost before the door, hammering away at something as if for dearlife. Blasi drew near, and stood watching the busy hands of his friend,who presently cried out angrily,

  "So it is holiday with you, is it, you lazy-bones? It is maddening to seeone fellow go wandering about with his hands in his pockets, while anotherhas to sit on his three-legged stool, hammering away at the soles ofthese--these--these Tanneneggers' boots. To-morrow is Cherry-festival inFohrensee, and every one is going; and I, I must get their boots ready! Iwish a thunder-storm would come and wash this away, and that, and thewhole lot of 'em!" As he spoke he tossed away first the mended boots, thenthe hammer, and last of all the three-legged stool, away, as far as hecould throw them, down into the meadow. He was white with rage.

  "What stuff!" said Blasi, dryly. "You are paid for your cobbling; you arebetter off than I am. I haven't a rap, and am in debt besides. I was goingto ask you if you couldn't lend me a franc. You have money, I know."

  "Oh yes, you sleepy-head! It's very likely I have money for you, when I'min such need of it myself! Go ask Dietrich; he has his pockets full, and abig heap besides. But don't be such a fool as to ask him for just one meanlittle franc; ask for five. I'll use two or three of them; tell him you'llpay him again in a week."

  Blasi seemed rather undecided.

  "I should have gone to him long ago," he said, "but his mother is alwaysabout, and she looks at a fellow as a bird does when somebody is trying torob her nest. I'm afraid of her."

  "Poh! it's all right enough to borrow a little money if you're going topay it back again. Don't be a fool! Go along!" and Jost enforced hisadvise with an emphatic shove that sent Blasi rolling along much fasterthan he wished to go. He grumbled a little at this unpl
easant style ofprogression, and muttered between his teeth,

  "He's no right to treat me so; I'm as good as he is, any day."

  When he reached Gertrude's garden, he stood still and looked over thehedge. Dietrich's mother was there, planting her vegetable bed. Hesauntered back and forth for awhile, and when he saw her go to the othercorner of the garden, he thought he could now get without being seen, intothe room where he heard Dietrich whistling at his work. He went round thegarden, and was just going in at the back gate, when he came plump againstGertrude. He went by quickly as if he had had no idea of going in; andthen hung about watching his chance, but as time did not stand stillwhile he waited, it was bye-and-bye eleven o'clock, and he had to go offto ring the noon bell.

  In the afternoon, neighbor Judith was hoeing in her little garden. Blasistood hesitating in his door-way, and then came out and stood watching herat her work.

  "I am always surprised, Blasi," said Judith, looking up from her work, "tosee you in company with a fellow, who steals your money from your pockets,before you know it is there. I would not have anything to do with such aone."

  "What? who?" asked Blasi, fumbling in his empty pockets. "Who picks mypockets? Who are you talking about? I know I did have some; I wish youwould tell me the thief."

  "I'll tell no tales," said Judith, working away.

  "Bah! tell me, won't you? A fellow can't defend himself unless he knowswho is attacking him," growled Blasi. "You might say who you mean."

  "Well, I will. Go and take him by the ear. His name is Idleness!" AsJudith spoke, she raised her head, and looked Blasi full in the face; thenshe bent to her work again.

  The lad was angry. He had hoped that he was going to get something back ofwhich he had been robbed, and that Judith would help him as she had been awitness of the theft.

  "Oh, what a fuss you make over a few minutes," he said crossly; "I have togo at four o'clock to ring the bell. I think I ought to take a little fromthe old man."

  "I should say you took more from him than he had. It has just struck halfpast two; do you know how many minutes there are in an hour and a half?"

  "There's no getting along with you," said Blasi, turning away.

  "Well, you get along finely without me, so go on and prosper," said Judithquickly as the lad disappeared.

  Blasi had by no means given up his project. He did not see anyone inGertrude's garden as he passed along. He clambered up on the lattice bythe hedge and peeped through the open window into the room. Dietrich'smother was seated near her son; both were working steadily, the youngfellow was chattering and laughing gaily, and his mother answered andlaughed too, but they did not stop working all the while. Blasi sawplainly that this was not the time to make his request. He would waituntil the mother had gone to the kitchen, as she was sure to dobye-and-bye. Four o'clock came and the great business of his day was athand; it was time to ring the bell, and he had to go. At last when eveningcame Blasi found his opportunity. He stood watching outside the door, whensuddenly Dietrich threw it open, and started off with rapid strides.

  Blasi called out, "Wait, wait a minute, can't you? What's your hurry?"

  Dietrich turned about.

  "What do you want? Tell me quickly. I'm going to meet Veronica; she can'tcome home alone through the woods after dusk."

  "Well, look here," said Blasi, breathing hard with his haste, and holdingDietrich by the arm. "You see, I'm in trouble for want of a few francs orso. Can't you lend them to me? I'll give them back again very soon."

  "I haven't that much about me now. Stop a minute--yes, here are two francsand here's a half; will that be enough?" and throwing the money to Blasi,the young man hastened away.

  As evening drew on, Gertrude stood at the end of the garden and lookeddown the road. She listened to every sound that came from below. She waswaiting for her children's voices, for the sound of their footsteps; herchildren, who made her life, her happiness, her hope! Ah! there they are!that is Dietrich's voice talking eagerly, while Veronica's bell-likelaugh sounds clear through the still evening air. With a heart filled tooverflowing with happiness, Gertrude went forth to meet them.

  As they sat together round the table in their usual cheerful mood, themother asked for an account of this, Veronica's first day among strangers,and how she liked her new work.

  "Very much indeed, mother," was the answer, and the young girl's facebeamed with a smile that swept away all trace of the clouds that sometimesmarred its beauty.

  "I can't tell you how delightful it is to be able to earn so much. Butafter all, mother dear, the best part is that I can come home to you atnight."

  "That's what I think too," said Dietrich quickly, and you had but to lookin his eyes to see that he spoke the truth.

  "And I am as glad as either of you," said Gertrude smiling. "It has been along day for me. It seems a great while since you started off thismorning, Veronica."

  "What! when your only son was sitting by you all day long?" asked Dietrichplayfully.

  "Oh, you know what I mean. I need you both to make me perfectly happy, andcannot spare either of you;" and she looked from one to the other withcaressing glances.

  Veronica told them all about the new teacher and the new work, and it waslate in the evening before the three separated for the night.