forth his
hand, Sir Franz besought him to suffer him to be his comrade in his
pilgrimage. Howbeit so doleful a fellow was by no means pleasing in my
brother's eyes, and so he right plainly gave him to understand; then the
Bohemian called to mind their former friendship, and entreated him to
put himself in his place and not to forget that he, as a man sound of
limb, would have avenged the scorn put on him by Rochow in fair fight
instead of with a dagger-thrust. They were condemned to a like penance
and, if Herdegen would not suffer him and give him his company, this
would be the death-blow to his blighted honor.

Hereupon I appealed to my brother right earnestly, beseeching him not to
reject his former friend if it were only for love of me. And inasmuch
as on that day his whole soul was filled with love, his hardness was
softened, and how gladly and thankfully my heart beat when I beheld him
give his hand to the man who had endured so much woe for my sake.

Presently, while they were yet speaking of their departing, again there
were voices without; and albeit I could scarce believe my ears I mistook
not, and knew the tones for Ursula's. Ann likewise heard and knew them,
and she quitted the chamber saying: "None shall trouble me in such
an hour, least of all shall Ursula!" The angelus had long since been
tolled, and somehap of grave import must have brought us so rare a guest
at so late an hour. My cousin, who would fain have hindered her from
coming in, held her by the arm; and her efforts to shake off the old
lady's grasp were all in vain till she caught sight of Herdegen. Then
at length she freed herself and, albeit she was gasping for breath, her
voice was one of sheer triumph as she cried: "I had to come, and here I
am!"

"Aye, but if you come as a Mar-joy I will show you the way out, my
word for that!" my cousin panted; but the maid heeded her not, but went
straight toward Herdegen and said: "I felt I must see you once more ere
you depart--I must! Old Jorg attended me, and when I am gone forth again
Dame Maud will speak my 'eulogium'. Only look at her! But it is all one
to me. Find me a place, Herdegen, where I may speak with you and Ann
Spiesz alone. I have a message for you."

Hereupon my cousin broke in with a scornful laugh, such as I could never
have looked to hear from her, with her kind and single heart; and my
brother told Ursula shortly and plainly that with her he had no more
to do. To this she made a