ice were squeaking about the shop. If you're
going to sing, sing something that will cheer a fellow up and put some
heart into him to go on with his work. I sometimes sing a thing of that
sort myself." With which he commenced a rough, wild hunting song, full
of "Hulloh!" and "Hussah!" And he imitated the cry of the hounds and
the shouts of the people in such a thundering, all-penetrating voice,
that the workshop shook and resounded. Master Martin stopped both his
ears with his hands, and the boys of Frau Martha (Valentine's widow),
who were playing in the workshop, hid themselves in terror amongst the
timber. Just then Rosa came in astonished, nay terrified, at the
prodigious shouting, for "singing" it could not be called. Conrad was
silent the moment he saw Rosa. He rose and went up to her in the most
courteous manner, saying, in a soft voice, and with gleaming fire in
his bright brown eyes: "Beautiful lady, how this old working cabin
beamed with roseate splendour as soon as you entered it. Ah! had I but
seen you a little sooner I should not have offended your ears with my
rough hunting song." He turned to Master Martin and the workmen, and
cried, "Hold that abominable noise, every one of you! Whenever this
beautiful lady deigns to show herself here, hammers and mallets must
stop. We will hear only her sweet voice, and listen with bowed heads to
such commands as she may deign to issue to us--her humblest servants."

Reinhold and Friedrich gazed at each other in amazement; but Master
Martin shouted with laughter, and said, "Well, Conrad, I must say you
are the very drollest rascal that ever put on an apron. You come here,
and seem to be going to set to work to smash the whole place to atoms,
like some great lumbering giant. Next you bellow till we're all obliged
to hold our ears; and, by way of a worthy _finale_, you treat my little
daughter here as if she were a lady of quality, and you her page, in
love with her."

"I know your lovely daughter quite well, Master Martin," answered
Conrad unconcernedly; "and I tell you she is the most glorious lady
that walks the earth, and would to heaven that she would permit her
most devoted servitor to be her Paladin!"

Master Martin held his sides. He nearly suffocated himself before he
made way for his laughter by dint of wheezing and coughing. He then
managed to get out a "Good! very good! my dear young sir. Take my
little girl Rosa for a lady of quality, if you will, but just