October 31st, 1839.
On this important day, the Reformation Festival was celebrated for the first time in South Australia, a great joy for every true Lutheran. Given the great and persistent drought we have had, today's wonderful rain brought no less joy. When it was at its strongest, I was on the way to Klemzig, where Schlinke wanted to assert his claim to Bertha today.

( 162 ) When I arrived, Schlinke wasn't there yet, and we almost thought he wouldn't come again when he suddenly drove up during the children's lesson, when Bertha and I were talking very confidentially about the beginning of our love. Immediately after the end of the children's apprenticeship, headmaster Weimann appeared and brought Bertha and Mr. Fiedler to the barriers; I would have liked to have had a word with Bertha immediately beforehand, but the house was so full of people that this couldn't happen. This circumstance increased the unrest that I felt during the interrogation, which lasted at least two hours. No time in my life has been longer than these two hours, and I have never looked forward to the outcome of anything with greater excitement than today. I was always on the verge of going to the pastor to see and hear what was going on, when Mathilde brought me the news that they had spoken very violently, and I was driven by fear and anger that perhaps my dear Bertha would be harshly treated, that perhaps she would want to shed tears, abandoned by everyone, while I would sit at home, fearful like a hare and patiently like a sheep, powerlessly confessing her love. These thoughts drove me out with irresistible force. When I knocked, contrary to my expectations, someone shouted: "Come in"; Although Mr. Pastor Kavel answered my question as to whether I was disturbing him, he didn't think so, but there was a pause for a few ( 163 ) moments, which made it difficult for me to continue. Finally Mr. Fiedler said that I had come at just the right time, because I could now say for myself whether he had told me anything about Krummnow, or what kind of chicken I had to pick with the latter; However, when I agreed to explain, they didn't even want to know. I now said that once I had been asked to take part in the proceedings, I was free to ask how far they had come. The pastor then said that the matter needed careful consideration and that he would give an explanation in the next week or so. Misunderstanding this, I said that the matter could be settled today and that it would not suffer any delay because there were others involved. Meanwhile, Fiedler reassured me that the pastor only meant a written argument for Schlinke supported by biblical reasons.

The latter then said that if he was wrong and had to suffer from this...

The pastor: He doesn't suffer here at all because the "if" is needed by father and daughter.

Schlinke: It would always be a yes for the Christian.

Me: The Christian can give a yes with conditions.