im homewards, he freely confessed
that my brothers' discourse had recalled to him so plainly his fathers'
house, his parents, and all that was dear and that he had left, that he
could no longer endure to stay away beyond seas. Then he looked me in
the eyes and whispered: "The images of my sick mother and my grey-headed
father drew me most strongly; yet was a third; a dear, sweet, childish
face; the very same as now looks into mine so gladly and lovingly. Yes,
it is the very face I had hoped to find it; and when, erewhile, I saw
your likeness in the red hood, and heard your speech as you poured forth
your inmost soul to grandmother Pernhart, I knew my own mind."

How dear the newcomer was, in truth, to all in the Pernhart household I
might mark that evening. The old grandam's eyes rested on him as though
he were a dear son, and Master Pernhart would come close to him now
and again, and stroke his arm. Twice only did he hastily turn away
and privily wipe his eyes. Nevertheless he saw our love-making with no
jealousy; nay, when Gotz could scarce tear himself away from my picture,
Master Pernhart whispered to him that if ever a maid should stand in his
Gertrude's place it should be Margery, and the grandam had cried Amen.

It was already midnight when horses' hoofs were heard in the street, and
when they stopped Gotz rose, and then presently all the others vanished
from the chamber. Yet were we not long suffered to enjoy each other's
fellowship, inasmuch as he himself had ordered his horse, to the end
that he might ride forth spite of the lateness of the hour to the
forest. His servingman, himself the son of a forester, had been there
already to desire Grubner, the headman, to bid my uncle to his dwelling
early on the morrow, and the good son purposed there to gladden himself
by meeting his father, after that he had greeted the house unseen in the
darkness.

But how hard it was to part after so brief a meeting from this
newly-found and best-beloved lover, and to see the weary traveller fare
forth once more into the dark night. And how few words in secret had
we as yet spoken, how little had we discussed what might befall on the
morrow, and how he should demean himself to his mother!

To my humble entreaty that he would set aside the unnatural and sinful
oath which forbade him to enter his parents' house he had turned a deaf
ear. Yet how lovingly had he given me to understand his stern refusal,
which I justly deserved, in