ough ancient mountain-forests, while the boughs lashed my
face and I could look into the nests of the eagles and wood-pigeons, of
the starlings and squirrels. It was a wondrous ramble; now and then I
gasped for breath, yet on we went till, on the topmost bough of an oak,
behold, there was Lorenz Abenberger, and the evil words he spoke made me
wake up.

After this I could sleep no more, and in thought I followed Gotz through
the snow-storm. And in spirit I saw Waldtrud, the fair daughter of
Grubner, the chief forester, bidding him welcome, and giving him hot
spiced wine after his cold ride, and sipping the cup with her rosy lips.
Hereupon a pang pierced my heart, and methought indeed how well favored
a maid was the forester's daughter, and not more than a year older than
I, and by every right deemed the fairest in all the forest. And the
evil fiend jealousy, which of yore had had so little hold over me that
I could bear to see my Hans pay the friendliest court to the fairest
maidens, now whispered wild suspicions in mine ear that Gotz, with
his bold warrior's ways, might be like enough to sue for some light
love-tokens from the fair and mirthful Waldtrud.

Howbeit, I presently called to mind the honest eyes of my new heart's
beloved, and that brought me peace; and how I was struck with horror to
think that I had known the sting of that serpent whom men call jealousy.
Must it ever creep in where true love hath found a nest? And if indeed
it were so, then--and a hot glow thrilled through me--then the love
which had bound me to Hans Haller had been a poor manner of thing, and
not the real true passion.

No, no! Albeit it had worn another aspect than this brand new flame,
which I now felt burning and blazing up from the early-lighted and long
smouldering fire, nevertheless it had been of the best, and faithful and
true. Albeit as the betrothed of Hans Haller I had been spared the
pangs of jealousy, I owed it only to the great and steadfast trust I had
gladly placed in him. And Gotz, who had endured so much anguish and toil
to be faithful to his other sweetheart, was not less worthy of my faith,
and it must be my task to fight against the evil spirit with all the
strength that was in me.

Then again I fell asleep; and when, as day was breaking, I woke once
more and remembered all that had befallen me yestereve, I had to clutch
my shoulders and temples or ever I was certain that indeed my eyes were
open on another day. And