whole life? How do you know, whether this virtuous girl, who is so rich in all the gifts of person and intellect, holds you worthy of her love? Do you then think that with your despicable money all may be procured?”
“You do not seem to wish me well, venerable father.”
“I can never wish them well, who seek to deceive me by falsehood! On that evening, when I met you amidst the trees, I asked you whether any other persons had been inquiring for me at the hermitage during my absence? ‘Not a soul!’ you replied, and yet, but five minutes before, my upright Liesli, who never stained her lips with an untruth, had told me that she herself had been with you the whole of the evening! I asked you if you would come to me the following morning? ‘Yes, with pleasure,’ you replied, although you had already agreed with the maiden, as she informed me, to ascend mount Rigi with her that same morning. What had I done, to merit such deception from you? Whoever lies will also steal; should I not act very foolishly were I to tell the thief, where I had placed the treasure confided to my care?”
Those two unfortunate lies! I could have torn my tongue from my head, so vexed and mortified was I.—My greatest wish at this moment was, to have been able to reply with feelings of conscious innocence and indignation to the hermit, who had thus deprived me of my earthly happiness—my adorable Liesli; but this was impossible, for I felt too well how justly and truly he had spoken.
“Well,” said I, at length, completely disconcerted, “if you are indeed such a severe minister of truth, which I ever highly honour and revere, tell me, without reserve, how Liesli expressed herself about me; for to me, glowing as my heart does with such a pure love for her, it cannot be indifferent to learn, if I may hope and depend upon a reciprocal attachment.”
“You,” returned he, after some hesitation, “are the first acquaintance she has formed as yet. To this circumstance
