Perhapsofall，ittroubledmosttheHerrPfarrer。Washenotthefatherofthevillage？Andassuchdiditnotfalltohimtoseehischildrenmarrywellandsuitably？marryinanycase。Itwasthedutyofeveryworthycitizentokeepalivethroughouttheagesthesacredhearthfire，torearupsturdyladsandhonestlassiesthatwouldserveGod，andtheFatherland。AtruesonofSaxonsoilwastheHerrPastorWinckelmann—kindly，simple，sentimental。
\"Why，atyourage，Ulrich—atyourage，\"repeatedtheHerrPastor，settingdownhisbeerandwipingwiththebackofhishandhislargeunevenlips，\"Iwasthefatherofafamily—twoboysandagirl。Youneversawher，Ulrich;sosweet，sogood。WecalledherMaria。\"TheHerrPfarrersighedandhidhisbroadredfacebehindtheraisedcoverofhispewterpot。
\"Theymustbegoodfuninahouse，thelittleones，\"commentedUlrich，gazingupwardwithhisdreamyeyesatthewreathofsmokeascendingfromhislong—stemmedpipe。\"Thelittleones，alwaysmyheartgoesouttothem。\"
\"Taketoyourselfawife，\"urgedtheHerrPfarrer。\"Itisyourduty。
ThegoodGodhasgiventoyouamplemeans。Itisnotrightthatyoushouldleadthislonelylife。Bachelorsmakeoldmaids;thingsofnouse。\"
\"Thatisso，\"Ulrichagreed。\"Ihaveoftensaidthesameuntomyself。
Itwouldbepleasanttofeelonewasnotworkingmerelyforoneself。\"
\"Elsa，now，\"wentontheHerrPfarrer，\"sheisagoodchild，piousandeconomical。Thepriceofsuchisaboverubies。\"
Ulrich\"sfacelightenedwithapleasantsmile。\"Aye，Elsaisagoodgirl，\"heanswered。\"Herlittlehands—haveyouevernoticedthem，HerrPastor—sosoftanddimpled。\"
ThePfarrerpushedasidehisemptypotandleanedhiselbowsonthetable。
\"Ithink—Idonotthink—shewouldsayno。Hermother，Ihavereasontobelieve—Letmesoundthem—discreetly。\"Theoldpastor\'sredfaceglowedredder，yetwithpleasurableanticipation;hewasabornmatchmaker。
ButUlrichthewheelwrightshuffledinhischairuneasily。
\"Alittlelonger，\"hepleaded。\"Letmethinkitover。Amanshouldnotmarrywithoutfirstbeingsureheloves。Thingsmighthappen。Itwouldnotbefairtothemaiden。\"
TheHerrPfarrerstretchedhishandacrossthetableandlaidituponUlrich\'sarm。
\"ItisHedwig;twiceyouwalkedhomewithherlastweek。\"
\"Itisalonesomewayforatimidmaiden;andthereisthestreamtocross，\"explainedthewheelwright。
ForamomenttheHerrPastor\'sfacehadclouded，butnowitclearedagain。
\"Well，well，whynot？Elsawouldhavebeenbetterinsomerespects，butHedwig—ah，yes，she，too，isagoodgirlalittlewildperhaps—itwillwearoff。Haveyouspokenwithher？\"
\"Notyet。\"
\"Butyouwill？\"
Againtherefellthattroubledlookintothosedreamyeyes。ThistimeitwasUlrichwho，layingasidehispipe，restedhisgreatarmsuponthewoodentable。
\"Now，howdoesamanknowwhenheisinlove？\"askedUlrichofthePastorwho，havingbeenmarriedtwice，shouldsurelybeexperienceduponthepoint。\"Howshouldhebesurethatitisthiswomanandnoothertowhomhishearthasgoneout？\"
Acommonplace—lookingmanwastheHerrPastor，shortandfatandbald。
Buttherehadbeenotherdays，andthesehadlefttohimavoicethatstillwasyoung;andtheeveningtwilightscreeningthesearedface，Ulrichheardbutthepastor\'svoice，whichwasthevoiceofaboy。
\"Shewillbedearertoyouthanyourself。Thinkingofher，allelsewillbeasnothing。Forheryouwouldlaydownyourlife。\"
Theysatinsilenceforawhile;forthefatlittleHerrPfarrerwasdreamingofthepast;andlong，lankyUlrichNebendahl，thewheelwright，ofthefuture。
Thatevening，aschancewouldhaveit，Ulrichreturningtohishomestead—aramblingmillbesidetheriver，wherehedweltalonewithancientAnna—metElsaofthedimpledhandsuponthebridgethatspansthemurmuringMuhlde，andtalkedawhilewithher，andsaidgood—night。
Howsweetithadbeentowatchherox—likeeyesshylyseekinghis，topressherdimpledhandandfeelhisowngreatstrength。Surelyhelovedherbetterthanhedidhimself。Therecouldbenodoubtofit。