me that I shouldn't give up hope yet, that he still wanted to talk to her.

As Bertha [had] promised me, she stayed at home to please me and let Mathilde go in the evening: I told her what [her] father [had] said, which made such an impression that she changed from that moment on. We sat on her bed, and it was there that our love found itself again; She gave me a kiss that she would be mine again, on condition that I reconcile with Pastor Kavel. Even at the farewell she gave me a voluntary kiss, and even came to my corner, where we couldn't be noticed from the other room ( 232 ), to bring it to me.

How do I understand my bride? It soon seems to me as if the whole thing was a ploy by women to tease me and gloat, which she denies; I soon think, what I fear, that this is the real reason why Bertha's love had disappeared because she thought her father was averse to me. But how could her love disappear so completely, how could she spend the afternoon cheerful with her sister and scare me? How could she have made the decision, as she told me, to send me back all my presents? How could she believe her sister, who had been telling her for a long time that we wouldn't become a couple yet?

Oh Bertha! Bertha! what stumbling block will I fear this incident will be for the future? When should I consider your love to be entirely based on me? You said yourself that you didn't know what you had based it on until now.

I spoke to her father a bit later as we were leaving. He was happy that we had found each other again. He added that it would have reflected badly on her if she had abdicated me too.

( 233 ) I have forgotten that Bertha told me that she was offended when I told her that I wanted to curse my potatoes, and in general she seemed to find fault with my Christianity.

February 5th, 1840.
My students give me a lot of joy; at least they take it quickly when they come. Since the Protector has had several alphabets printed, some of which Br. Teichelmann has stuck onto small sticks, I can represent almost any word and sound it out with the most advanced children. While I was in the Wirrameyunna huts, the governor came by, rode up to us and asked me if we were making any progress? My answer was "very slowly, as the natives were too lazy," to which he replied that he was afraid we wouldn't be able to do much with them. --

In the evening all three tribes, namely the Patpa-, Wirra- and Marimeyunna, were together for the big game. While everyone's attention was focused on the latter, the treacherous Pultao tried to spear the young girl Midli batarti.