rn such praise as Ann, who was by good right at our head;
notwithstanding I ever stood high. And the vouchers I carried home were
enough to content Cousin Maud, for her great wish that her
foster-children should out-do others was amply fulfilled by Herdegen, the
eldest. He was indeed filled with sleeping learning, as it were, and I
often conceived that he needed only fitting instruction and a fair start
to wake it up. For even he did not attain his learning without pains, and
they who deem that it flew into his mouth agape are sorely mistaken. Many
a time have I sat by his side while he pored over his books, and I could
see how he set to work in right earnest when once he had cast away sports
and pastime. Thus with three mighty blows he would smite the nail home,
which a weaker hand could not do with twenty. For whole weeks he might be
idle and about divers matters which had no concern with schooling; and
then, of a sudden, set to work; and it would so wholly possess his soul
that he would not have seen a stone drop close at his feet.

My second brother, Kunz, was not at all on this wise. Not that he was
soft-witted; far from it. His head was as clear as ever another's for all
matters of daily life; but he found it hard to learn scholarship, and
what Herdegen could master in one hour, it took him a whole livelong day
to get. Notwithstanding he was not one of the dunces, for he strove hard
with all diligence, and rather would he have lost a night's sleep than
have left what he deemed a duty only half done. Thus there were sore
half-hours for him in school-time; but he was not therefor to be pitied,
for he had a right merry soul and was easily content, and loved many
things. Good temper and a high spirit looked out of his great blue eyes;
aye, and when he had played some prank which was like to bring him into
trouble he had a look in his eyes--a look that might have melted a stone
to pity, much more good Cousin Maud.

But this did not altogether profit him, for after that Herdegen had
discovered one day how easily Kunz got off chastisement he would pray him
to take upon himself many a misdeed which the elder had done; and Kunz,
who was soft-hearted, was fain rather to suffer the penalty than to see
it laid on his well-beloved brother. Add to this that Kunz was a
well-favored, slender youth; but as compared with Herdegen's splendid
looks and stalwart frame he looked no more than common. For this cause he
had no ill-wishers