rward toward Sidsel, flung his arms around
her, and they danced a whirling dance. Sophie laughed aloud at it, but
Sidsel directed her extraordinary glance maliciously and piercingly
toward her. Otto saw it, and the girl was doubly revolting and frightful
in his eyes. With the increasing darkness the assembly became more
animated; the two parties of dancers were resolved into one. At length,
when it was grown quite dark, the ale barrels become empty, the tankard
again filled and once more emptied, the company withdrew in pairs,
singing. Now commenced the first joy, the powerful operation of the ale.
They now wandered through the wood, accompanying each other home, as
they termed it; but this was a wandering until the bright morning.

Otto and Wilhelm were gone out into the avenue, and the peasants shouted
to them a grateful "Good night!" for the merry afternoon.

"Now works the witchcraft!" said Wilhelm; "the magical power of the ale!
Now begins the bacchand! Give your hand to the prettiest girl, and she
will immediately give you her heart!"

"Pity," answered Otto, "that the Maenades of the north possess only that
which is brutal in common with those of the south!"

"See, there goes the smith's pretty daughter, to whom I threw the best
rose!" cried Wilhelm. "She has got two lovers, one under either arm!"

"Yes, there she goes!" simpered a female voice close to them. It was
Sidsel, who sat upon the steps of a stile almost concealed in the
darkness, which the trees and the hedge increased still more.

"Has Sidsel no lover?" asked Wilhelm.

"Hi, hi, hi," simpered she; "the Herr Baron and the other gentleman
seek, doubtless, for a little bride. Am I beautiful enough? At night all
cats are gray!"

"Come!" whispered Otto, and drew Wilhelm away from her. "She sits like
some bird of ill omen there in the hedge."

"What a difference!" exclaimed Wilhelm, as he followed; "yes, what a
difference between this monster, nay, between the other girls and Eva!
She was, doubtless, born in the same poverty, in similar circumstances,
and yet they are like day and night. What a soul has been given to Eva!
what inborn nobility! It must be, really, more than a mere freak of
Nature!"

"Only do not let Nature play her freaks with you!" said Otto, smiling,
and raised his hand. "You speak often of Eva."

"Here it was association of ideas," answered Wilhelm. "The contrast
awoke remembrance."

Otto entered his chamber--he opened the win