If you know anything more stupid than that, I should like to hear it,"
cried Judith very angry indeed; but she did not move away, for she wanted
to hear all that Blasi had to say.

"I know what you mean," he went on, "but I am not so very stupid as you
think. It certainly means something, when she is so changed. Jost says
that she knows all that Dietrich has been about, and she is hot with anger
against him because he has not told her about it himself. Jost says that
if he only mentions Dietrich's name before her she looks like a wild-cat
in a moment, and he says too that he has noticed for some time, that she
has no objection to letting Dietrich see that she can get along very well
without his help, and you know that she is capable of anything when she's
angry."

"Well, this was the one drop wanting!" said Judith, and shouldering her
jug she went off, snorting with anger, in such a rage that Blasi stood
looking after her in stupid amazement, and muttered,

"I wonder if she wants to get him, too!"

Judith walked along, talking aloud to herself,

"Yes, she is! she is! she is capable of anything when she is angry!"

Now Judith had looked upon her neighbor's boy from his childhood up, as if
he belonged to her. He was her prime, favorite and she meant to do well by
him. She liked Veronica because she was such a steady girl at her needle,
and because she would have nothing to say to any one but Dietrich. This
very reserve however, was rather distasteful to Judith as regarded
herself, but she liked it towards others. She had planned it all out that
Dietrich should marry Veronica soon after the confirmation, that they
should set up a pretty little establishment, and be her beloved neighbors.
She meant to be their intimate friend and helper, to go freely in and out
of their house, and to stand god-mother now and then. She would leave her
property to the little ones. Now all this fine air-castle was overthrown
and all her plans spoiled. Judith bounced violently into the kitchen and
set