Thesummerpassed.Poppiesandflowers,cocklesandstarwortwiltedandvahefrogsgrewsilentinthepondaorksflewhighandpreparedfordeparture.ThatswhenGoldmuurned.

    Hearrivedoernoon,duringalightrain,anddidnotgointothecloister;fromtheportalhewentimmediatelytohisworkshop.Hehadeonfoot,withoutthehorse.

    Erichfeltashockwhenhesawhimein.Althoughhereizedhimatfirstglandhisheartwentouttogreethim,themanwhohadebackseemedpletelydifferent:afalseGoldmund,manyyearsolder,withahalf-spent,dusty,grayface,sunkencheeks,andsick,sufferingeyes,althoughthereaininthem,butasmilerather,akied,old,patientsmile.Hewalkedpainfully;hedraggedhimself,andheseemedtobeillaired.

    Thisged,hardlyreizableGoldmundpeeredstrahisassistant.Hemadenofussabouthisreturedasthoughhehadmerelyeinfromanotherroom,asthoughhehadneverleftevenforaminute.Heshookhandsandsaidnothing,ing,ion,nostory.Hemerelysaid:"Imustsleep,"heseemedtobeterriblytired.HesentErichawayaintohisroomotheworkshop.Therehepulledoffhisdletitdrop,tookoffhisshoesandwalkedovertothebed.Fartherbatheroomhesawhismadonnastandingunderacloth;hedidnotgouptohertotakeofftheclothaher.Insteadhecrepttothelittlewindow,sawErichwaitinguneasilyoutside,andcalleddowntohim:"Erich,youellanybodythatImback.Imverytired.Itwaituntiltomorrow."

    Thenhelaydownonthebedinhisclothes.Afterawhile,sincehecouldnotfallasleep,hegotupandwalkedheavilytothewalltolookintoasmallmirrorthathungthere.AttentivelyhelookedattheGoldmundwhostaredbackathimoutofthemirror,awearyGoldmund,amanw