“Don’t say another word,” interrupted Veronica; so decidedly that Jost was silent for awhile.  She crossed the road again, and presently Jost did the same, and as he came up to her, he began again in a soft insinuating tone,

“Don’t you see Veronica, that it isn’t my fault that things have taken this turn?  I often thought of you when Dietrich was risking so much money, and I used to say to him “think of her,” for I knew how you would feel about it.”

“Oh, you Judas!” cried Veronica, swelling with rage, and she sprang forward and ran on with all her might.  Jost followed close at her heels.  When she had passed through the wood, and had come out on the Tannenegg side, he said, in a flattering voice,

“Veronica, do you see how precious you are to me?  I will protect you and take care of you even if you do not speak one kind word to me.  I shall come to meet you every day, for I will not allow you to go through the wood alone.  You may meet all sorts of people there and may sometimes be glad of my company.  Bye-and-bye you will be convinced how much I care for you.”

Veronica was now near the house.  She hurried on and without once looking back, she sprang through the door and shut it fast behind her.

“You shall be tame enough before I have done with you,” muttered Jost, and he bit his lips until the blood came.

Veronica stood still on the other side of the door until she heard his retreating footsteps; then she opened it and went out again.  She went over to the sexton’s house.  Blasi stood in the doorway, in a despondent attitude, with his hands in his pockets.  He was brooding over the melancholy reflection that he had paid away the last penny of the coin that Judith had given him, for last evening’s glass at the Rehbock, and that he had no credit.  He saw no glimmer of hope in the prospect before him, and looked disconsolately at the ground.  Suddenly Veronica stood before him.  He stared at her with surprise.

“Blasi, will you do me a favor?” she asked in a friendly tone, “I will return it sometime when you need help.”

Here was an unexpected chance.  He opened his eyes yet wider with delight.

“Tell me what it is, Veronica,” he said; “I will go through fire and water for you.”

“It is only to go through the wood for me, to-morrow evening, and every evening till the days grow longer again.  Will you?  You can have your evening glass afterwards at my expense.”

Blasi stood speechless; staring at Veronica, who waited for his answer.

“Why; do you want two of us?” he said presently, “I don’t see why.  Jost is going too, for you told him to go and meet you every evening.”

Veronica’s dark eyes flashed forth a fire that dazzled poor Blasi.

“So!  I told him to go, did I?  Who told you such a thing as that?”

“Jost said so himself at the Rehbock last evening, before a room full of people; and some of them said that you were going to prove that you could get along very well without the fellow that ran away.”