As to
Cousin Maud, she had remained at home to welcome her darling at the gate
of the Schopperhof, which she had decked forth bravely. Yea, her warm
heart beat more fondly for him than for us. She could not wholly conceal
her dismay at seeing him so changed. She would stroke him from time to
time with a cherishing hand, yet she went about him as though there were
somewhat in him of which she was afeard.

Howbeit, in the evening it was with her as it had been with me in the
land of Egypt, and she found him again for whom her heart yearned so
faithfully. Now, that which had seemed lacking came to light once more,
and from that hour she no longer grieved for what he had lost and which
a true mother peradventure might never have missed; indeed as his bodily
health failed, and she shared the care of tending him with Ann, none
could have conceived that he was not verily and indeed her own son.

The evil monster which had crept into my brother's breast grew, thank
Heaven, but slowly; and when the young pair had been wed, with a right
splendid feast, and my brother had taken Ann home to the Schoppers'
house as his dear wife, a glad hope rose up in me that Master Knorr had
taken an over-gloomy view of the matter, and that Herdegen might blossom
again into new strength and his old hearty health. Howbeit it was but
his heart's gladness which lent him so brave and glad an aspect; the
sickness must have its course, and it was as it were a serpent, gnawing
silently at my joy in life, and its bite was all the more cruel by
reason that I might tell no man what it was that hurt me save the old
Waldstromers. But they likewise grew young again after their son's
homecoming, and notwithstanding her feeble frame, Aunt Jacoba saw
Margery's eldest son grow to be six years of age. And she sent him
his packet of sweetmeats the first day he went to school; but when the
little lad went to thank his grandmother, the old dame was gone to her
rest; and her husband lived after her no more than a few months.

One grief only had darkened the latter days of this venerable pair, in
truth it was a heavy one; it was the death of my dear brother Herdegen,
which befell at the end of the fifth year after he was happily married.

At the end of the fourth year his sickness came upon him with more
violence, yet he went forth and back, and ever hoped to be healed, even
when he took to his bed four weeks before the end.

On the very last day, on a certain fine