You deserve it, for you are a better man than you
make yourself out to be."
The old man, who all this time had a pinch of snuff between his fingers
which he did not want to waste, took it quickly, and then said:
"Well, I don't object," but he added: "But now I shall dismiss you, for
I have much younger lips to kiss, which taste better. Come here, you
disguised parson."
"I'll come, but first you must call me by name."
"Well, what is your name?"
"You need not know that, for you can give me a name yourself--you know
what name I mean."
"You're a clever one! Well, if you like, come here, daughter-in-law.
Does that name suit you?"
In reply Amrei flung herself upon him.
"Am I not to be asked at all?" complained the mother with a radiant
face.
The old man had become quite saucy in his joy. He took Amrei by the
hand, and asked, in a satirical imitation of a clergyman's voice:
"Now I demand of you, honorable Cordula Catherine, called Dame
Landfried, will you take this--" and he whispered to the girl aside:
"What is your Christian name?"
"Amrei."
Then the Farmer continued in the same tone:
"Will you take this Amrei Josenhans, of Haldenbrunn to be your
daughter-in-law, and never let her have a word to say, as you do to your
husband, feed her badly, abuse her, oppress her, and as they say, bully
her generally?"
The old fellow seemed beside himself; some strange revulsion had taken
place within him.
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