"That afternoon we had instruction for
confirmation. Before it I walked up and
down the corridor with Marie Hemmann.
The boys, who took lessons with us, stood
about and stared at our feet. Marie wore
high yellow laced boots and I had on a pair
of brand new low shoes. She asked after my
sister, and I was tempted to tell her every-
thing that lay on my soul. But, after the
first word, I noticed that she did not grasp
what it was all about, and so I preferred to
keep silent. During our lesson the pastor,
with whom all the girls were in love, ex-



30 THE GRISLEY SUITOR.
plained to us about the Sadduccees coming
to Christ and asking him if a man had seven
wives, which one would be his in heaven;
and how he answered that there was no dif-
ference between men and women in heaven.
A weight seemed to fall from my heart. If
there was no difference between men and
women in heaven, then it couldn't make any
difference whether Clara was with him once
or not. My resolution was taken. And
then, while the parson went on speaking, I
said silently to God: 'If you don't want me
to let Rudolph come up to her, then let her
be better this evening. You can do that if
you will. I v/ill not go home until evening,
and then if she is only just a little better I
will not allow Rudolph to come up. But
if she is not better then I will do it. You,
dear God,' I said, 'can hinder it, if you don't
want it to happen. You can make a tile fall
on my head, or have me arrested for murder.
