time they were married," was the
burden of her tale of Mary Ann. He wept long and loud; but at last he
followed his mother like a lamb into the room. Seeing his picture, he
tore it from the wall and dashed it to pieces on the floor. For hours
he sat behind the table and covered his face with his hands. Then
suddenly he rose, whistled a merry tune, and asked for his dinner. He
could not eat, however, but dressed himself, and went into the village.
From the Adler he heard the sound of music and dancing. In passing
Jacob's house, he cast down his eyes, as if he had reason to be
ashamed; but when it was behind him he looked as proud as ever. Having
reported himself and left his passport in the squire's hands, he went
to the ball-room. He looked everywhere for Mary Ann, though he dreaded
nothing more than to meet her. George was there, however. He came up to
Aloys and stretched out his hand, saying, "Comrade, how are you?" Aloys
looked at him as if he would have poisoned him with his eyes, then
turned on his heel without a word of answer. It occurred to him that he
ought to have said, "Comrade! the devil is your comrade, not I;" but it
was too late now.

All the boys and girls now made him drink out of their glasses; but the
wine tasted of wormwood. He sat down at a table and called for a
"bottle of the best," and drank glass after glass, although it gave him
no pleasure. Mechtilde, the daughter of his cousin Matthew of the Hill,
stood near him, and he asked her to drink with him. She complied very
readily, and remained at his side. Nobody was attentive to her: she had
no sweetheart, and had not danced a round that day, as every one was
constantly dancing with his or her sweetheart, or changing partners
with some other.

"Mechtilde, wouldn't you like to dance?" said Aloys.

"Yes: come, let's try."

She took Aloys by the hand. He rose, put on his gloves, looked around
the floor as if he had lost something, and then danced to the amazement
of all the company. From politeness he took Mechtilde to a seat after
the dance: by this he imposed a burden on himself, for she did not
budge from his side all the evening. He cared but little for her
conversation, and only pushed the glass toward her occasionally by way
of invitation. His eyes were fixed fiercely on George, who sat not far
from him. When some one asked the latter where Mary Ann was, he said,
laughing, "She is poorly." Aloys bit his pipe till the mouthpiece broke
off,