After that the Justice made a deep bow as a sign of thanks.  The Sexton’s wife and the maid carried the baskets out and packed them in the wagon.  At the same time the Hunter saw a maid carrying some dishes and plates out of the room in which the clergyman had eaten, into the entrance-hall, where she washed them before the eyes of the latter, who had stepped up to the threshold of the room.  After she had finished this washing she approached the clergyman, who drew a small coin out of a piece of paper and gave it to her.

In the meanwhile the Sexton was drinking his coffee with relish, and when a cup was brought for the Hunter too, he sat down with it beside the Sexton.

“I am a stranger here,” said the young man, “and do not entirely understand the customs which I have been witnessing today.  Will you, sir, be good enough to explain them to me?  Is it obligatory for the peasants to supply the Pastor with these products of nature?”

“It is obligatory as far as the hens, eggs and cheeses are concerned, but not the rolls.  They represent merely goodwill, but have always been paid without objection,” replied the Sexton with great seriousness.  “Three peasant communities are affiliated with the diaconate or head pastorate in the city, and part of the Pastor’s and Sexton’s income is derived from these dues, which are collected every year from the various farms.  In order to do this collecting, as has been done every year since time immemorial, we make annually two trips or rounds, namely, this short summer trip, and then a long winter trip, shortly after Advent.  On the summer trip the hens, eggs and cheeses come due, one farm paying so much, another so much.  The first item, namely, the hens, is payable, however, only pro Diaconatu, the Sexton having to content himself with eggs and cheese only.  In the winter, corn, barley, oats and rye fall due; we come then with two carts, because one would not hold all the sacks.  Thus twice a year we go the rounds of the three communities.”

“And where do you go from here?” asked the Hunter.

“Straight home,” answered the Sexton.  “This community is the last of the three, and this Oberhof is the last farm in this community where the customary dues are collected.”

The Sexton was then called away, for the horses were hitched to the cart, and the clergyman, with cordial handshakes and good wishes, was taking leave of the Justice and his daughter, who were now standing before him with the same air of friendly reverence that they had shown for him during all the other proceedings of the day.