old Lichtenstein
to his son-in-law: "what can her business be about?"

The Duke despatched one of his pages to find out the cause of the
noise, and received for answer that some countrywomen were trying to
force their way into the hall to present their gifts to the new married
couple in spite of the lansquenet, who would not permit them to enter,
only because they were common people. Ulerich gave orders immediately
to admit them, for, having been pleased with the conduct of the
burghers, he promised himself some amusement from the peasants. The
attendants having made room for them to pass, Albert, to his
astonishment, recognized the wife of the fifer of Hardt, and her pretty
daughter, led by her cousin, Mrs. Rosel.

When he was passing from the castle to the church, he thought he
recognised the lovely features of the girl of Hardt among the crowd;
but more important considerations having engrossed his whole attention,
this fleeting apparition was obliterated from his mind. He acquainted
the company who the women were, and to whom they belonged. The girl
excited great interest, from her being the child of that man whose
marvellous actions in the service of the Duke had often been a subject
of mystery, and whose fidelity and assistance in time of need
contributed essentially to Ulerich's return to his country. The girl
had the fair hair, the open forehead, and much the same features of her
parent; but the sharp cunning eye, the bold and powerful bearing of the
father, were softened into a playful kindliness and natural gaiety
which shed a charm around the retiring modesty of his child. As such
Albert had known her, when he was in the fifer of Hardt's house, but
she now appeared disconcerted before so many persons of rank; it struck
him also that her countenance betrayed dejection and sorrow, feelings
he had not discovered before on her beautiful features.

Her mother, knowing what good manners were, courtesied all the way up
from the entrance door till she arrived at the Duke's chair. The blush
of anger still rested upon the wan cheeks of Mrs. Rosel, who felt
herself highly aggrieved and insulted by the lansquenet, namely by the
Magdeburger and Casper Staberl, who had called her an old withered
stick. Before she could compose herself, and present the family of her
brother in respectful form to her master, the fifer's wife had already
taken the hem of the Duke's mantle and pressed it to her lips. "Good
day, my Lord Duk