CHAPTER III.
IN THE VILLAGE AND IN THE SCHOOL.
The village of Buchberg consisted of several scattered farms, and of groups of houses and cottages that peeped out from among thriving fruit trees.

Only a few houses stood near the church; the school-house, the sexton's house, the substantial old-fashioned dwelling of the mayor of the little community, and two or three peasants' cottages.

Dr.Stein's house stood quite by itself at a little distance from the others, on a slight elevation, quite surrounded by trees.

The biggest buildings in all Buchberg stood on the principal street of the town; these were the fine house and the enormous factory of Mr.Bickel, who had built them both.
Between the street and the dwelling lay a sunny flower-garden; not a tree nor a shrub was planted in it, lest the grandeur of the mansion should be concealed in the least from public view.

Here lived the wealthy manufacturer, with his wife and their only son.