THE SOLACHERS. 81 



The building is low, having only one story and the 

 ground-floor ; but it is roomy, and, like all houses built 

 of wood, extremely warm. It had been bought and 

 given to them by a few of the gentlemen who used to 

 stay here, in proof of their regard for the worthy old 

 forester, and as a means of rendering a lasting service to 

 his family. They spoke of the circumstance with evident 

 satisfaction, and perfect freedom from all false shame; 

 on the contrary, they rightly looked on the gift as an 

 honourable token how much their father had been re- 

 spected. The beams and wainscot of the room where 

 we sat were dark with age ; the usual bench ran round 

 the sides, as well as round the stove, which occupied a 

 large space ; and in one corner was a small square table 

 where we sat and supped. 



When I went out into the kitchen, I found Berger 

 busily occupied with Nanny, the second sister, in pre- 

 paring our meal. As usual he was full of fun ; and 

 while making the dumplings, or boiling the potatoes, he 

 was joking with his pretty helpmate, and laughing so 

 heartily that it was quite a pleasure to hear him. We 

 cooked the liver of our chamois, roasted a piece of veni- 

 son that was luckily in the house, and with our dump- 

 lings and potatoes served up a right famous supper. 

 And how we enjoyed it ! If anything were wanted 

 besides my wolfish appetite to give it a zest, this was 

 furnished by Berger's fun and merriment. How he 

 contrived to satisfy his hunger as he did, and yet to talk 

 so much, was to me a mystery. Now he would play 

 Marie some trick, who would give him a gentle pat as 

 a punishment, while her laughing mouth — laughing in 

 spite of herself — would threaten a severer penalty ; then 

 Lisl, the elder one, would be tried with some satirical 

 question, but she was clever enough to turn the intended 



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