At any rate, nothing very good, in that they all agreed, else she would have been friendly with them and would not have kept herself so apart.

When now no relations appeared and she had to be buried without any mourners, then a number of stories began to circulate which became more and more mysterious.

For the official of the community had said that, no doubt, she had been an exile, and the Justice of Peace had added that then she must have committed very great political crimes.

'Lizebeth was not loath to bring these stories to the pastor and his wife, for she had never been able to overcome the thought of the velvet pants.

The pastor's wife shook her head incredulously and forbade 'Lizebeth to carry the stories further.