jected one; 'why has not that ungrateful girl thy
heart and soul, or thou her beautiful exterior? Then nothing would have
been wanting to my happiness!' He went out; and Clara retired to her
chamber, where she secretly and bitterly wept over the well intended
but deeply wounding eulogium of the beloved youth.

CHAPTER XIV.

The next morning Alf returned from a visit to the royal orator Rothman,
with whom, to make an end at once of all apprehensions, he had arranged
that his baptism and his marriage with both of the sisters should take
place that afternoon. As he approached Trutlinger's house he was not a
little astonished to find some of the yeomen of the guard, in the green
and ash-colored livery, before the house door, holding some saddle
horses. A milk white palfrey with costly trimmings and a purple
gold-embroidered covering, particularly attracted his attention.
Anxious to learn what it all meant, he walked into the parlor, where he
encountered Tuiskoshirer and the lord steward Dilbek, in their court
dresses.

'Hail, hail! prosperity has befallen thee, my brother!' cried the
little prophet, ardently embracing him. 'Even as Abraham was accounted
worthy of being commanded to offer to the Lord the most beloved object
which he possessed upon earth, so likewise art thou also elected and
favored among thousands; not merely to present, but really and truly to
offer up, thy heart upon the altar of duty to thy king and lord.'

'Madness seems to catch early in the morning,' sighed Alf peevishly,
'and I cannot understand a word of all this. Both of you being
gentlemen, you have nothing to neglect, and have leisure to spend the
day as you please. I, however, am a handicraftsman, who must labor for
my livelihood; therefore tell me in short plain words what you want of
me, so that I may give you a proper answer and then go to my workshop.'

'Thy answer, my good fellow, is of very little consequence,' replied
Tuiskoshirer with a malicious laugh. 'We await our answer from the
worthy maiden Eliza, to whom we are sent by our all-merciful king to
request her to become his third wife and queen of Zion.'

'My God!' stammered Alf, becoming deathly pale and leaning against the
wall for support.

'It cannot be helped now, my friend,' whispered the lord steward to
him; 'therefore submit with a good grace to what must at any rate
happen; so that you may hereafter be able to claim a recompense for