amber in the
morning, to look forth into the street, the sun was shining brightly in
a blue sky. I minded me with silent thanksgiving of all the good cheer
yestereve had brought us, and of the wisdom and faithfulness of our good
friends. Many a wise and a witty word uttered over their wine came back
to me then; and I was wondering to myself what new plot had been brewing
between my godfather and Uncle Tucher, whereas I had marked them laying
their heads together, when behold, the stable-lad from the Tuchers'
coming down the street, leading my own dear bayhorse; and as I saw him
closer I beheld that his mane and flowing tail were plaited up with fine
red ribbons. He stood still in front of our door and, when I flew down
to greet the faithful beast, the lad gave me a letter wherein nought was
written save these Latin words in large letters: "AMICITIA FIDEI" which
is to say: "Friendship to Fidelity."

Thus the pinch and sacrifice were on a sudden ended; and albeit a
snow-storm ere long came down on us, yet the sunshine in my bosom
was still as bright as though Spring had dawned there in the December
season, and all care and fear were banished.

CHAPTER XV.

It was noon. Master Peter could not come to table for a bad headache,
and Cousin Maud scarce opened her lips. The sudden turn of matters
had upset her balance, and so dazed her brain that she would answer at
cross-purposes, and had ordered so many pats of butter from the farm
wench as though she had cakes to bake for a whole convent full of
sisters. Likewise a strange unrest kept her moving to and fro, and this
was beginning to come upon me likewise, by reason that Ann came not,
albeit in the morning she had promised to be here again at noon.

I was about to make ready to seek her, when I was stopped, first by a
message from the forest bidding me, albeit I had scarce left the
lodge, to return thither no later than on the morrow; and next by an
unlooked-for guest, who had for long indeed been lost to sight. This
was Lorenz Abenberger, the apothecary's son, erewhile a companion of
Herdegen in his youth, and he who, after he had beguiled the other pueri
to dig for treasure, had been turned out of the school. Since those
days, when likewise he had cast nativities for us maidens, and many a
time amused us with his magic arts, we had no knowledge of him but that,
after his parents' death, he had ceased to ply the apothecary's trade,
and had given himself up to the s