, I thought there would be nothing to-day
except laughter and loud singing. But my grandmother used to say that
the grief which tortures a young girl--she herself knows not why--is
the hardest to bear, and then Barbara must now make up her mind about
marriage, for, besides you, there are Peter Schlumperger and young
Crafft to be considered.

"I remembered all this, and so, as usual, I took her face between my
hands to give her her morning kiss. She always offers me her lips,
but to-day she turned away so that my mouth barely brushed her cheeks.
'Women's whims!' I thought, and therefore let it pass. You can imagine
how glad I should have been to hear something more about yesterday
evening, but I made no objection when she wished to go to the chapel
at once, because she had overslept the hour of mass. She would be back
again before the porridge was heated. But the little bowl has stood
there probably three quarters of an hour, and we are still waiting in
vain."

Here he paused in his voluble flow of speech, and then burst forth
angrily: "The devil may understand such a girl's soul! Usually Wawerl
does just the opposite of what one expects; but if she does accept you,
she will--as an honest man I ought not to conceal it from you--she will
give you many a riddle to guess. Whims and freaks are as plenty with her
as buttercups in spring turf; but you can't find a more pious girl in
all Ratisbon. From ancient times the motto of the Blombergs has been
'Faith, Courage, and Honour,' and for that very reason it seems to
me highly improbable that Wawerl would advise you to accept an office
which, after all, will force you to yield to the will of heretical
superiors. The high pay alone will hardly win her."

"It will not?" asked Wolf in astonishment. "It is for her alone, not for
myself, that I value the increased income."

"For her?" repeated the old man, shrugging his shoulders incredulously.
"Open your eyes, and you will see what she cares for gold and jewels."

"The splendid bouquet there--do you suppose that she even looked at it?
Bright pinks, red roses, and stately lilies in the centre. Where were
they obtained, since April is scarcely past? And yet she threw the
costly birthday gift aside as if the flowers were apple parings. It was
not she, but I, who afterward put them in the pitcher, for I can't bear
to see any of God's creatures thirst, even though it is only a flower.
Besides, we both know that the fullest purse in