brass.

Eppelein cracked his whip against his leathern boot-tops; old Tetzel's
leaden voice cried out to enquire where we were lingering, and a silken
train came rustling down the stairs. My lover kissed his hand to me, and
I went forth with him into the court-yard. His fiery horse gave him
so much to do that he never marked my farewell. On a sudden it flashed
through my brain that this was that very horse which my grand-uncle
had given to Herdegen, and herein again, meseemed, was an omen of ill.
Likewise I noted that Hans was in silken hose with neither spurs nor
riding-boots. Howbeit the Hallers had many horses; and as a lad he had
been wont to ride with or without a saddle, and was a rider whom none
could unhorse, even in the jousting-ring.

He had soon quelled his steed and was trotting lightly over the stones,
followed by Eppelein; but as he vanished round the first corner meseemed
that the bourn stone, as he rode past it, was turned into the yellow
gravestone I had seen in my dream, and that again I saw the great black
letters of the name "Hans Haller."

I passed my hands across my eyes to chase away the hideous vision, and
I was young enough and brave enough to return Ursula's greeting without
any quaking of my knees. Cousin Maud, meanwhile, had walked up the
stairs, snorting and fuming like a boiling kettle; nor could she be at
peace, even among the company who were awaiting the bidding to table.
Many an one marked that something more than common was amiss with her. I
refrained myself well enough, and I excused my brother's and my lover's
absence with a plea of weighty affairs. My grand-uncle, however, guessed
the truth, and when I gave true answer to his short, murmured questions
he wrathfully cried: then these were the thanks he got? Henceforth he
would plainly show how he, who had been a benefactor, could deal with
the youth who had dared to mock his authority. Hereupon I besought him
first to grant me a hearing for a few words; but he waved me away in
ire, and signed to Ursula, who hung on his arm, and she set her lips
tight when he presently with wrathful eyes whispered somewhat in her ear
whereof I believed I could guess the intent. And when I beheld her call
Sir Franz von Welemisl to her side and give him her hand, speaking a few
words in a low voice, I discerned that, in truth she knew all.

She presently led her father aside and told him somewhat which brought
the blood to his ashy face, and led him