he would look down,
Good luck would ensue.

"'In vain, she's still dreaming;
But something stirred.
By the apple-tree yonder
A laugh was heard.

"'And bright as the rosy
Morning so fair,
My dear little treasure
I saw standing there.

"'Nodding and smiling,
She beckoned away,
But not one lucky shot
Had I on that day.

"'Are they bewitched, then,
My powder and lead?
Each ball flies away,
Bringing down nothing dead.'

"Susanna suddenly stopped, as if exhausted, and drew a long breath. The
laugh had vanished for a moment from her face.

"'More, more!' cried the gentlemen. 'The charming song cannot possibly
be finished?' asked Stuermer.

"'No, the conclusion is surely wanting,' added Pastor Gruene. And Susanna
drew a long breath and sang on:

"'And again past the house
I was going to-day;
Little grandmother peeped at me
Over the way.

"'With a shake of the head.
She calls with sweet grace,
"God greet you, and are you
Off to the chase?"

"'And with all my might
I cursed the old dame;
But my arm remained steady,
I missed no aim.

"'And when in surprise
I told Liebchen the tale.
She began to laugh
In a perfect gale.'

"The last verse ended in a real laugh, so roguish and charming and so
irresistible that we were all drawn into it.

"'Now that is enough!' she cried at last. 'Oh! I do so like to hear how
people have to laugh with me when I begin! Oh! I have done it so often
when Isa tried to scold me, but now'--she suddenly stopped--'I haven't
laughed for so long, I thought I should have forgotten how, but, thank
fortune, I can still do it! Oh, I do like to laugh so!'

"Anna Maria rose and went into the garden-parlor, as if she had
something to attend to there, but she did not come back, nor did she
come when Stuermer and the clergyman wished to take their leave of her.
Klaus looked for her in the sitting-room, and even went up to her
bedroom, but he returned alone, and the gentlemen had to leave without
bidding her good-by.

"'Pray excuse Anna Maria, dear Edwin,' I heard Klaus say; 'she probably
does not dream of your going so early; you are certainly in a great
hurry.'

"It was true; Stuermer's departure was very abrupt; toward the last he
had scarcely spoken a word. I thought it was because he was reminded of
his first love; th