which he always returned ill at ease, it occurred to Lydia how long she
had put off paying the good Abbess a duteous visit. She well knew what
had prevented her from fulfilling this obligation, and she daily
reminded herself that it was now high time. That day she felt as
oppressed as if she were doing some evil deed when she took up her veil
and hung her gipsire about her. At one time hesitatingly, at another
moment quickly did she walk along the road by the river in constant
fear, of meeting him, who was in the whole world her one terror. Had
she been obliged to wend her way through some thick wood, behind whose
every tree lay a robber in ambush she could not have felt more
terrified. With quickened breath did she mount the last step and when
she reached the convent gate and inquired for the Abbess, her heart
beat so rapidly and her voice sounded so low and broken, that the
sister-porter thought that Lydia had come to deliver some sad news, and
directed her with a shake of the head to the rooms of the Abbess. The
most trying moment now came for Lydia. She was obliged to pass across
the wide court under the very windows of the Magister. The bad man
could do her no evil there, but perhaps he might see her. She
experienced the same feeling as when she passed the butts behind the
Castle, when it could never be known whether or not a bolt from a
cross-bow would hit one full in the face, and she had a feeling of
security when she finally stood in the shade of the narrow passage, and
knocked with trembling hand at the door of the good Abbess. The aged
Countess warmly embraced her, reproving her for having so long delayed
her visit, whilst others, who lived much further away, had all visited
her. Then she wished to know if her Father had really been the friend
and advocate of the detestable prisoners and broke into passionate
comments, as to the misery entailed on the Pfalz by the continual
changes in Church matters. She did not allude in any way to the
Magister, and having refreshed Lydia with a cup of fresh milk dismissed
her with a motherly kiss. Happy and with a light heart did the good
child hurry down through the court to the gate, and having sent her
best greetings through the sister-porter to the inmates of the convent,
rapidly descended the hill.

Where the path joined the country road she met an ugly peasant boy with
fiery red hair and a cunning expression holding something in his hand.
It seemed as if he were wai