solemnly but sweetly:

"Do you not love me, Margery?" And when I had hastily declared that I
did, he went on in the same tone, and still holding my bands: "Then
you must know, once for all, that I could refuse you nought, neither in
great matters nor small, unless it were needful. Yet, when once I have
said," and he spoke loud, "nothing can move me in the very least. You
have known me from a child, and of your own free will you have given
yourself over to this iron brain. Now, kiss me once more, and bear me no
malice! Till to-morrow. Out in the forest, please God, we will belong to
each other for many a long day!"

Therewith he clasped me firmly and truly in his arms, and I willingly
and hotly returned his kiss, and or ever I could find a word to reply he
had quitted the chamber. I hastened to the window, and as he waved his
hand and rode off down the street facing the snow-storm, I pressed my
hand to my breast, and rarely has a human being so overflowed with pure
gladness at being twice worsted in the fray, albeit I had forced it on
myself.

How I returned home I know not; but I know that I had rarely knelt at my
prayers with such fervent thanksgiving, and that meseemed as though my
mother in Heaven and my dead Hans likewise must rejoice at this which
had befallen me.

As I lay in bed, or ever I slept, all that was fairest in my past life
came back to me as clearly as if it were living truth, and first and
chiefest I saw myself as little Red-riding-hood, under the forest-trees
with Gotz, who did me a thousand services and preferred me above all
others till, for Gertrude's sake, he departed beyond seas, and set my
childish soul in a turmoil.

Then came the joy and the pain I had had by reason of the loves of
Herdegen and Ann, and then my Hans crossed my path, and how glad I was
to remember him and the bliss he had brought me! But or ever I had come
to the bitterest hour of my young days, sleep overcame me, and the manly
form of Gotz, steeled by much peril and strife for his life, came to me
in my dreams; and he did not, as Hans would have done, give me his
hand; Oh no! He snatched me up in his arms and carried me, as Saint
Christopher bears the Holy Child, and strode forward with a firm step
over plains and abysses, whithersoever he desired; and I suffered him to
go as he would, and made no resistance, and felt scarce a fear, albeit
meseemed the strong grip of his iron arm hurt me. And thus we went on
and on, thr