canopy.
His hat was pushed off his forehead, he looked around him with an air
of satisfaction, and did not spare the bottle. On his right, at the
side of the table, sat Bertha, who was no longer obliged to submit to
the ceremonious restraint of cast-down eyes, and keeping at a
respectable distance from the bridegroom. Her glance and the expression
of her features bespoke happiness. She looked at her husband, who sat
opposite to her, and she could scarcely convince herself her being
actually a wife was not all a dream, and that the name she had borne
eighteen years was changed to that of Sturmfeder. She smiled as often
as she regarded him, for it appeared to her that he had already assumed
the direction of her conduct. "He is my head," she said to herself,
playfully, "my lord, my master!"

And her thoughts were really verified, for Albert felt all the
importance and responsibility of his new position in society. It seemed
to him as if the young people already paid him more respect than
heretofore, and that the old knights treated him more upon an equality
since he had become the head of a family, and stood no longer alone in
the world. The notions in the good old times were somewhat different to
those in the present day respecting the marriage state, for the
designation of nobles and citizens was invariably supposed to include
that of wife and children, leaving the state of celibacy to monks
alone.

The knight of Lichtenstein, Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg, and the
chancellor, were seated near the Duke, and the scribe to the Council of
Ulm was not far from them, being allowed that honour in consequence of
his having been the companion of the bridegroom at the wedding. The
eyes of the men soon began to sparkle from the effects of the wine, and
the cheeks of the ladies to assume a deeper red, when the Duke gave a
signal to his headman, and the dinner was removed. The poor people were
not forgotten on this occasion; as was always the case on similar
rejoicings, the remains of the dinner were taken to the court yard of
the castle, and delivered over to them. Pastry and fruit were next
brought in, and the wine jugs were replenished by a better sort of the
generous liquor for the use of the men, whilst Spanish sweet wine was
served to the ladies in small silver cups. This was the moment when,
according to the customs of the time, presents were presented to the
new-married couple: large baskets were placed beside Bertha to re