flowers and grass,
which sent forth aromatic odors. The squire was seen coming out of
Christian the tailor's, and only covered his head when he found himself
in the middle of the street. Soges had a new sword, brightly japanned
and glittering in the sun.

The squire's wife soon followed, leading her daughter Barbara, who was
but six years old, by the hand. Barbara was dressed in bridal array. She
wore the veil and the wreath upon her head, and a beautiful gown. As an
immaculate virgin, she was intended to represent the bride of the young
clergyman, the Church.

At the first sound of the bell the people in shirt-sleeves disappeared
as if by magic. They retired to their houses to finish their toilet: Ivo
went on to the church.

Amid the ringing of all the bells, the procession at last issued from
the church-door. The pennons waved, the band of music brought from Horb
struck up, and the audible prayers of the men and women mingled with the
sound. Ivo, with the schoolmaster at his side, took the lead, carrying
the crucifix. On the hill the altar was finely decorated; the chalices
and the lamps and the spangled dresses of the saints flashed in the sun,
and the throng of worshipers covered the common and the adjoining fields
as far as the eye could reach. Ivo hardly took courage to look at the
"gentleman," meaning the young clergyman, who, in his gold-laced robe,
and bare head crowned with a golden wreath, ascended the steps of the
altar with pale and sober mien, bowing low as the music swelled, and
folding his small white hands upon his breast. The squire's Barbara, who
carried a burning taper wreathed with rosemary, had gone before him and
took her stand at the side of the altar. The mass began; and at the
tinkling of the bell all fell upon their faces, and not a sound would
have been heard, had not a flight of pigeons passed directly over the
altar with that fluttering and chirping noise which always accompanies
their motion through the air. For all the world Ivo would not have
looked up just then; for he knew that the Holy Ghost was descending, to
effect the mysterious transubstantiation of the wine into blood and the
bread into flesh, and that no mortal eye can look upon Him without being
struck with blindness.

The chaplain of Horb now entered the pulpit, and solemnly addressed the
"permitiant."

Then the latter took his place. Ivo sat near by, on a stool; with his
right arm resting on his knee, and his chin upon