he had changed
much and for the better in these late years, and could boast of good
respect among the learned men of our city; and thus, albeit not a wealthy
man, and in spite of his mature years, he would be welcomed as a
son-in-law by many a mother of daughters.

Thus the Magister, who had waited so long, held back even yet awhile. One
week followed another, the third Sunday in Advent went by, and the holy
tide was at hand when the delay should end which the patient suitor had
allowed.

I had seen Ann less often than in past times. In the coppersmith's great
household she commonly had her hands full, and I felt indeed that her
face was changed towards me. A kind of fear, which I had not marked in
her of old, had come over her of late; meseemed she lived ever in dread
of some new insult and hurt; also she had courteously but steadfastly
refused to join in the festivities to which she was bidden by Elsa Ebner
or others of the upper class, and even said nay to uncle Christian's
bidding to a dance, to be given this very day, being his name-day, at his
lodgings in the Castle. I likewise was bidden and had accepted my
godfather's kindness; but my timid endeavor to move Ann to do his will,
as her best and dearest old friend, brought forth the sorrowful answer
that I myself must judge how little she was fit for any merry-makings of
the kind. My friendship with her, which had once been my highest joy, had
thus lost all its lightheartedness, albeit it had not lost all its joys,
nor was she therefore the less dear to me though I dealt with her now as
with a well-beloved child for whose hurt we are not wholly blameless.

Now it fell that on this day, the 20th December, being my godfather's
name-day, I found her not with the rest, but in her own chamber in
violent distress. Her cheeks were on fire, and she was in such turmoil as
though she had escaped some terrible persecution. Thereupon I questioned
her in haste and fear, and she answered me with reserve, till, on a
sudden, she cried:

"It is killing me! I will bear it no more!" and hid her face in her
hands, I clasped her in my arms, and to soothe her spoke in praise of her
stepfather, Master Pernhart, and his high spirit and good heart; then she
sobbed aloud and said: "Oh, for that matter! If that were all!"

And suddenly, or even I was aware, she had cast her arms about me and
kissed my lips and cheeks with great warmth. Then she cried out: "Oh,
Margery! You cannot turn