d on him long and
earnestly. It was, as if the image of some departed friend was before
her, and she was endeavoring to find some similitude. Then blushing she
sank her head. Thoroughly happy he shouted for joy, laid his arms
around her neck, his lips sought hers. The storm outside, which now
burst forth, did not disturb his happiness. The rain streamed down into
the court below. What mattered it to him? At every sheet of lightning
he kissed her quivering eyelids, at every clap of thunder he pressed
his lips to hers. "I have wooed thee by thunder and lightening, may it
strike me if ever I prove unfaithful to thee." Suddenly her father's
voice was heard outside, as he himself had likewise been driven home by
the storm. Lydia drew back terrified, but Felice seized fast hold of
her hand and thus went with her to meet the physician. Astonished
Erastus drew back for a moment, and then said smilingly, "Ah, is this
so," and kissed Lydia's pure forehead. She remained silent and
blushingly laid her innocent head on her beloved father's breast. "You
are welcome to me," said Erastus turning to Felice, "provided only that
you abjure papistry." The Maestro bounded like a shying steed. "It
cannot be your meaning, noble Sir," he said, "that I must confess a
belief, which my heart does not admit."

"Such is not my meaning," answered the physician, "but when you stole
my child's heart, you must have well known, that Erastus would never
choose a papist for son-in-law. What I oppose here in Olevianus' church
discipline, is the power of the priesthood, the subjugation of
conscience, how could you therefore expect, that I should ever permit
my child to confess to one of your priests?"

"That she shall never do, noble Sir. She shall live in her faith, as I
in mine."

"Where could that be possible? Certainly not here in Heidelberg. You
would never be accepted as citizen, and in your country my child would
certainly be imprisoned by the Inquisition."

"In Austria it is however possible," replied Felix. "I shall return to
Master Colins in Innsbruck. The noble minded Kaiser Max admits both
confessions, and marriages between members of the two religions are not
uncommon there." Erastus shook his head thoughtfully. Lydia's resigned
calm also led him to ask himself, whether his child was not in reality
acting in obedience to his wishes, and whether this young heart was
really ripe enough for binding vows? He at last said, "I will seek more
inf