"Well, you can give my kind regards to your Pastor, and tell him from me that he must be an india-rubber Pastor. But before you tell him that, be sure you have passed all your examinations. And listen carefully to this, Gerold. You are beginning to think for yourself, and it is a very unpopular thing to do, unpatriotic, contrary to the interests of society and condemned by men. If you go on like this, every one around you will look down on you. And some fine day you will yourself be presented with a dunce cap. You can be sure of it. Don't reflect, Gerold; don't think."
As they talked, they reached a mossy cabin, with a paper weather-cock turning on the roof. One side of the weather-cock represented a young man, and the other a frightful witch. The youth had a whip in his hand, the witch a broom.
"There is my weather-vane," explained the Foolish Student. "When the young hero drives away the witch, it is fine weather in the great world. But will your Excellency do me the honour of coming in? There is a bench in the cabin, and that bench has plenty of room on it for two black sheep like us. Now make yourself at home and have a look around. You may pick up anything you like, open anything, and take out anything. I will put no restrictions on you and I have no secrets from you, and there is no such thing as order in my house. In the meantime I will get the altar ready. If you want any information, ask for it. I shall be close by and I will hear everything you say." And he left the cabin.
Gerold drew a box from under the bench and began to rummage in it. He took out some old coins, then some fossils and pressed plants, and some bits of glass of different colours. The Foolish Student put his head through a hole in the wall and
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