The family occupied only the lower floor; upstairs the six great splendid rooms were always closed and their shining green blinds always drawn down.

No one ever entered there except Mrs.Bickel, who now and then came up to air and to dust and to admire them.

Her little boy was allowed to go with her sometimes; but he had to leave his shoes at the door; and he stood just inside, half awe-struck in the gloom; staring at the unused chairs and the stiff furniture.

Mr.Bickel was a very important person in the village, for in his factory he employed a great many persons, both young and old; he was very clever at finding out what people were good for, and knew just how much they could work, and what they could do best, and how much they were worth to him.

It was said that whenever a child was born in Buchberg, Mr.Bickel began at once to calculate how many years would pass before it would be old enough to be put upon his pay-roll.