nswer that it would be a sin to doubt that,
inasmuch as he was now a pious pilgrim and honorably betrothed,
nevertheless she craved to see Ann. That, too, was denied her, and she
did but shrug her shoulders; then she turned to the Bohemian, who had
gone towards her, and asked him with icy politeness to remove from her
presence, inasmuch as he was an offence to her. Hereupon I saw the last
drop of red blood fade away from the young Knight's sickly cheek, and
it went to my heart to see him uplift his hands and implore her right
humbly: "You know, Ursula, all that hath befallen me for your sake, and
how hard a lot awaits me. Three times have I been plighted to you, my
promised bride, and as many times cast off...."

"To spare you the like fate a fourth time; all good things being in
threes!" she put in, mocking him. "Verily you have cured me of any
desire ever to be your Dame, Sir Knight. And since meseems this day our
speech is free and truthful, I am fain to confess that such a wish was
ever far enough from me, and even when we stood betrothed. A strange
thing is love! 'Here's to fair Margery!' one day, on every noble
gentleman's lips; and on the morrow: 'Here's to sweet Ursula!' In some
folks it grows inwardly, as it were a polypus, and of such, woe is me,
am I. My love, if you would know the truth, my lord Baron von Welemisl,
love such I have known I gave once for all to that man Herdegen
Schopper; it has been his from the time when, in my short little skirts,
I learnt to write; and so it has ever been, till the hour when worthy
Dame Henneleinlein, the noble Junker's new cousin--it is enough to make
one die of laughing!--when that illustrious lady whispered the truth in
my ear that her intending kinsman had thrown me over, and, with me, old
Im Hoff's wealth, for the sake of a scrivener's wench. And to think that
as a boy he was wont to bring me posies, and wear my colors! Nay, and
since that time he has shot many a fiery glance at me. Only lately he
wrote to his uncle from Paris that he was minded to make me his wife.
Ah, you may open your eyes wide, most respected every-one's-cousin Maud,
and you likewise, prim and spotless Mistress Margery! Cross yourselves
in the name of all the Saints! A dead wolf cannot bite, and as for my
love for that man, I may boldly declare that it is dead and buried.
But mark me," and she clapped her hand to her heaving bosom, "mark me,
somewhat else hath made entrance here, with drums and tr