ought her
blessing. The duchess laid her hands upon the heads of the young girls
and said,

"'God alone, who is in heaven, knows whether this will prove a blessing
or a curse; but, if God hear the prayer of a weak woman, it will prove a
blessing! Bethink ye of your deceased parents; and may their blessing
evermore accompany ye! And therefore, let us most fervently utter the
Lord's Prayer.'

"Hereupon all present fell upon their knees, and prayed in a low voice;
but her most gracious ladyship did say the Lord's Prayer aloud.

"After the prayer was finished, the duchess made a sign to the chief
lady about the court, who did thereupon bring, on a silver salver, two
half wreaths, which were twined in the hair of the two damsels, Agnes
and Mary, after they had taken off their own wreaths; for it was the
custom, in Brieg, for betrothed maidens to wear only half wreaths until
their wedding-day, when they wore whole ones. The chamberlain did
hereupon display from the window a red flag; upon which signal the ducal
band did strike up a merry tune with trumpets and kettle-drums from the
castle tower; whereupon a crowd gathered in the town to know the cause
of such rejoicing at the palace.

"So soon, therefore, as the betrothed couples had duly thanked his grace
and the duchess by kissing the hems of their garments, her gracious
ladyship did announce to the betrothed damsels, that they should tarry
with her for the space of one year, in order more fully to learn their
household duties, and to strengthen them in the practice of the
Christian virtues; seeing that they were still, as the duchess said, as
ignorant as callow geese! Moreover, their clothes and furniture had to
be provided, and the like. But to the gentlemen, she said:

"Mind, gentlemen, ye must also make the best of it! Ye are scarce out of
leading-strings, and must go through some sort of ordeal. I would advise
you to travel, if so be your parents can afford it.'

"'By all means,' added the duke; 'my Darling Dorel is perfectly right:
you must travel; and, if ye know not whither, go to Jericho, and get ye
some beards to your faces.'

"As it was yet early in the day, his gracious lordship did order dinner
to be prepared: to which, besides the Town Council, and their wives and
children, Master Valentinus Gierth and his wife Susanna, were invited.

"His gracious lordship was exceeding merry, and the duchess was most
kind in her manner; nevertheless, the guests did