stereve, a right loyal and worthy gentleman, whom, indeed, I hoped to
bring to her knowledge.

But I might say no more by reason that her eyes on a sudden flashed up
brightly, and she vehemently broke in:

"Chaplain, Chaplain! Now what do you say? When the old man rode forth so
early this morning, and bid me farewell in so strange a wise, then--hear
me, Margery--he likewise spoke to me of a messenger from the East
who rode into the city yestereve--just as you say. But it was not of
Herdegen that he brought tidings, but of him--of him--of Gotz that he
had sure knowledge. And when the old man told me so much as that, for
certain somewhat lay behind it.--And now, Margery--when I see you--when
I consider...." Here, as I cast a meaning glance at the Chaplain, on a
sudden she shrieked with such a yell as pierced my bones and marrow; and
or ever I saw her, her weak, lean hand had clutched my wrist, and she
cried in a hoarse voice:

"Then you, you have hid somewhat from me! The look wherewith you
warned the Chaplain, oh! I marked it well.--And you hesitate--and
now--you--Margery--Margery! By Christ's wounds I ask you, Margery. What
is it?--What of Gotz? Has he... out with it--out with the truth.... Has
he written?--No.--You shake your head.... Merciful Virgin! He--he--Gotz
is on his way Home wards." And she clapped her hands over her face. I
fell on my knees by her side, dragged first her left hand and then her
right hand away from her eyes, covered them with kisses, and whispered
to her: "Yes, yes, Aunt, Mother, sweet, dear little mother! Only
wait--You shall hear all. Gotz is weary of wandering; he had not
forgotten his father and mother, nor me, his little Red-riding-hood--I
know it, I am sure of it. Patience! only a little patience and he will
be here--in Germany, in Franconia, in Nuremberg, in the forest, in the
house, in this hall, here, here where I am kneeling, at your feet, in
your arms!"

Then the deeply-moved dame, who had listened to me breathless, flung
her hands high in the air as if she were seeking somewhat, and it was as
though her eyes turned inside out; and I was seized with sudden terror,
inasmuch as I deemed that she had drunk death out of the overfull cup of
joy that my hand had put to her lips. Howbeit, it was but a brief swoon
which had come upon her, and as soon as she had come to herself again
and I had told her the whole truth, little by little and with due
caution, even that Gotz and I had found