restive, so that he turned away from us women-kind she kissed my cheek,
but in great haste, as though she would not have him see it. We were
gladly welcomed at the forest lodge. How truly my uncle and aunt rejoiced
at my brother's home-coming could be seen in their eyes, though the
mother, who had banished her own son, was cut to the heart by the sight
of such another well-grown youth.

The evening before guests had come to the lodge his excellency the Lord
Justice Wigelois von Wolfstein, and Master Besserer of Ulm. Now we had to
make ready in all haste for dinner, and never had Ann made such careful
and diligent use of our little mirror. As it fell, we could be alone
together for a few minutes only, and had no chance of speaking to each
other privily. This was likewise the case at table, and then, as my uncle
had prepared for a hunt in the afternoon, in honor of his guests, and as
the supper afterwards lasted until midnight, the not over-strong thread
of my good patience was not seldom in danger of giving way. But many
things were going forward which gave me matter for thought, and increased
the distress I already felt. Ann threw herself into the sport with all
her heart, and on the way back fell behind with Herdegen in such wise
that they did not reach home till long after the door closed on the last
of us.

At supper she nodded to me many times with much contentment; except for
that I might have been buried for aught she noted, for she hearkened only
to Herdegen's tales as though they were a revelation from above. For his
part, he now and again stole a hasty, fiery glance at her; otherwise he
of set purpose made a show of having little to do with her. He often lay
back as though he were weary; and yet, when their Excellencies questioned
him of any matter, he was ever ready with a swift and discreet answer. He
had lost nothing of his wonderfully clear and shrewd wit; nevertheless, I
was not so much at my ease with him as of old time. When my uncle said in
jest that the wise owl from Padua seemed to wear a motley of gay
feathers, his intent was plain as soon as one looked at my brother; and
in the fine clothes he had chosen to wear at supper the noble lad was
less to my mind than in the hunting weed which he had journeyed in,
inasmuch as the too great length of the sleeves of his mantle was in his
way when eating, and the over-long points to his shoes hindered him in
walking.

When, presently, my Aunt Jacoba left the