creatures can trust no one, not even their own children, and when they want to say anything to each other that they can’t explain by their usual signs, they always go to the very top of the hill where they can see that there are no eavesdroppers, and shout their secrets in one another’s ears.  Look at them cackling away, the old woman has laid another dragon’s egg, and now they’re both going to hatch it.”  “How eagerly they’re talking,” said Hawermann.  “Do you see how the old woman is gesticulating?  What can it all be about?” “I know what they are laying down the law about, for I know them well.  And Charles,” he continued after a short silence, “it is better that you should understand the whole state of the case at once, and then you’ll know how to act.”

“They’re talking about you, and your little girl.”  “About me, and my little girl!” repeated Hawermann in astonishment.  “Yes, Charles—­don’t you see.  If you had come with a great purse full of money, they would have received you with open arms, for money is the only thing for which they have the slightest respect; but as it is they regard you and the child in the light of beggarly poor relations who will take the very bread out of the mouth of their unfortunate son.”  “Oh!” sighed Hawermann, “why didn’t I leave the child with the Rassows?  Who is to take care of her?  Can you advise me what to do?  I can’t leave her here in my sister’s charge for my sister’s sake.”  “Of course you’d like to have her near you.  Well, Charles, I’ll tell you something.  You must remain at the Nuesslers tonight.  Tomorrow we’ll go and see the Councillor at Puempelhagen:  if we succeed there we’ll look out for a good place for the child in the neighborhood; and if we don’t succeed, we’ll go to the town and board her for the present with Kurz, the shopkeeper.  And now good-night, Charles!  Don’t be down-hearted, everything will look brighter soon.”  And so he went away.

Braesig arrived in good time next morning to go to Puempelhagen with Hawermann.  Mrs. Nuessler was sitting in the porch paying the farm-servants, and Joseph was sitting beside her smoking while she worked.  Neither of the old people had come down yet, for the grandmother had said to her daughter-in-law, she, at least, could not join them in the parlor, for she had nothing to put on her head; and the grandfather had said, they could all be quite happy without him.  “That’s really kind of them,” said Braesig.  “There’s no fear of our dinner being spoilt now by their bad temper, for, Mrs. Nuessler, I’m going to spend the day with Charles.  Come, Charles, we must be off.  Good-by little round-heads.”