econd bride.

'Heigh! surely! let us see!' exclaimed Gerhard: 'the child's conduct
pleases me very much. To be sure it is a singular circumstance, and the
prophet might make various objections to it if it were made known to
him; but I rejoice heartily that it has afforded you an opportunity to
obtain the maiden; who, I honestly confess to you, was the one of the
two sisters whom I always wished you might have. She has an angel's
heart. Eliza is not bad; but she has an imperious domineering spirit,
and will often warm your head for you; particularly if the little Clara
should in time excite an interest in your heart.'

Alf's asseverations, that he could be in no danger of so great an evil,
were drowned by the noise and cries of an immense multitude of people
who crowded the streets on their return from the market place.

'There has been another public day,' grumbled Gerhard, looking through
the window; 'and so it goes on continually. They crowd to the public
meetings and make much noise with their debates; but nothing is
effected for the general good, and meanwhile the bishop is constantly
diminishing the limits within which he has enclosed us; so that we
shall soon be unable to go outside the city walls. I am heartily tired
of the whole business. So long as my oxen hold out, and I can drive
them to our pasture, so long will I look on; but when that ends, God
will forgive my sins if I become an episcopalian as well as others.'

'Hush, kinsman!' cried Alf, who that moment caught a glimpse of the
duodecemvir Dilbek, passing by the street window.

Gerhard clapped his hands upon his mouth as the tailor danced into the
shop and embraced the stout butcher with friendly warmth.

'I greet thee dear brother and colleague!' cried he in ecstasy.

'Colleague?' murmured Gerhard, turning himself again to his sausage
table. 'We are not so far.'

'What did I say,' cried Dilbek, slapping Alf upon the shoulder: 'what
did I say to you on our way towards Munster?'

'Your conversation has not so much weight with me as to cause me to
mark or remember it,' answered Alf, peevishly.

'I said,' declaimed Dilbek, 'give to our prophet, our great Johannes,
the world, and he would govern it in fine style. Now, the commencement
is made. Johannes the First, has this day become king over Zion,
otherwise called Munster.'

'King!' cried Alf and Gerhard in a breath.

'King,' repeated Dilbek. 'And he has obtained the honor in his usually
sly w