tell me, either. I must go." And Dietrich strode away; but Jost followed
him.

"Don't be such a fool," he called out angrily, "can't you listen when I
tell you that I know something decidedly to your advantage. Something that
you'll be glad to know. You are running away because of her, and it is
something that will be good for her as well as for you. So do stand still,
and don't go scampering off as if the gamekeepers were after you!" But
Dietrich did not stop.

"What do you know about her, or her good?" he asked furiously. "Mind your
own business and let us alone."

As Jost had his own interest in winning the young fellow over, he
controlled himself, and said in most soothing tones,

"Dietrich, I am your friend. Some day you will be very grateful to me. As
you are in such a hurry, I will not stop you now; only promise me to come
over bye-and-bye for a few minutes to the Rehbock; there's a good fellow,
and you will not be sorry. Will you come?"

"Well, I've no particular objection to that," said Dietrich, and ran off
as fast as he could.

Blasi, who had kept pace with the other two, seeing that there was no
chance for him now, turned back with Jost, and the two went into the
Rehbock together.

Dietrich met Veronica quite the other side of the wood. He did his best to
rouse her from her silent mood, and to restore her to better spirits; but