dudgeon
sounded in her voice! Each one had his meed, even my Hans, to whom she
cried: "Keep thy bride out of Porro's way, Master Haller. It ill-beseems
the promised wife of a worshipful Councillor to be casting her lot in
with a Fool! Howbeit, to laugh is better than to weep, and he laughs
longest who laughs last!" And thereupon she herself laughed loudly and,
with a scornful nod to Ann, turned her back on us.

All was still in Master Pernharts' house; he himself had gone to rest. At
Herdegen's bidding we followed him into the hall, and there he clasped
Ann to his heart, and declared to us that now, and henceforth for ever,
they were one. Whereupon we each and all embraced; but my friend clung
longest to me, and whispered in my ear that she was happier than ever she
could deserve to be. Herdegen asked me whether now he had made all right,
and whether I would be the same old Margery again? And I right gladly put
up my lips for his to kiss; and the returned prodigal, who had come back
to that which was his best portion, was like one drunk with wine. He was
beside himself with joy, so that he clasped first me and then Hans in his
arms, and slapped Eppelein, who carried a lantern to show us the pools
left by the storm of rain, again and again on the shoulder, and thrust a
purse full of money into his free hand, albeit there was an end now of my
grand-uncle's golden bounty. Nought would persuade him to go back to the
dancing-hall, to meet Ursula and her kin; and when he presently departed
from us we heard him along the street, singing such a love song as no
false heart may imagine, as glad as the larks which would now ere long be
soaring to the sky.

We got back to the great hall. The dancing and music were yet at their
height; our absence we deemed had scarce been marked; howbeit, as soon as
we entered, my grand-uncle made enquiry "where Herdegen might be," and
when I looked about me at haphazard I beheld--my eyes did not cheat me--I
beheld Mistress Henneleinlein in one of the side-stalls.

No man told me, yet was I sure and certain that she was saying somewhat
which concerned me, and presently I discerned in the dim back-ground the
feathered plume which Ursula had worn at the dance. My heart beat with
fears; every word spoken by the old Dame would of a surety do us a
mischief. Hans mocked at my alarms and at a maid's folly in ever taking
to herself matters which concern her not.

Then Ursula came forth into the hall aga