neck-tie in the morning; he had money enough for that. Then his thoughts
ran on still farther. Veronica had not spoken to him in this friendly way
for many a long year. It was not to make fun of him, Jost was a liar as
she had said; else why did he run away instead of going with him to meet
her? No, he wouldn't be taken in by that fellow, any longer. As they
walked along she had asked him all sorts of questions about himself; what
his business was, and how he succeeded in it and so on. He had not been
able to answer very satisfactorily about his business, for since
Confirmation, three years before, he had only been waiting for something
to turn up. He had had nothing to do except to ring the bell at eleven
o'clock, and then stand in the door-way of his house until it was time to
ring it again at four. Then towards evening he always went to the Rehbock
to hear the news. All this appeared in a new light before his eyes, now
that Veronica had inquired about his occupation. Then she had encouraged
him so sympathetically to try to get something to do, and promised to be
of service to him if she could. It was exactly as if she had an especial
interest in his welfare. Why did she concern herself about him? Suddenly a
light broke through his darkness.

"Dietrich is gone, and is not likely to come back," he said to himself,
"she detests Jost; and women always do the very thing you least expect
them to; I've heard that a hundred times. She is after me! Good heavens!"
he called out in his surprise as this idea seized him. "A fellow must
spruce up! I will take the first step this very day."

The idea which had seized Blasi's mind that he was to take Dietrich's
place with Veronica, suggested a farther plan. He decided immediately to
become a saddler too, and before he went into his own house, he turned
back and sought Gertrude's garden.