argesse in his own house he was wont to bestow another,
and a very noble one, on the old men and women of the poor folks in the
town; and when this was over he went with them to the church of Saint
Aegidius, and washed the feet of about a score of them, which act of
penitential humility he was wont to repeat in Passion week.

Then when he had welcomed his kin, each one to his house, he would say
to such as thanked him, if it were a child, very soberly: "Be a good
child." But for elder folks he had no more than "It is well," or an
almost churlish: "That is enough."

This evening he had given me a gown of costly brocade of Cyprus; to Kunz
everything that a Junker might need on his travels; and to Herdegen the
same sword which he himself had in past time worn at court; the hilt was
set with gems and ended in the lion rampant, couped, of the Im Hoffs.
Ursula Tetzel, like me, had had a gown-piece which was lying near by the
sword.

Herdegen, holding the jewelled weapon in his hand, thanked his
grand-uncle, who muttered as was his wont "'Tis well, 'tis well,"
when Jost Tetzel put in his word, saying that the gift of a sword was
supposed to part friends, but that this ill-effect might be hindered if
he who received it made a return-offering to the giver, and so the token
was made into a purchase.

At this Herdegen hastened to take out a gold pin set with sapphire
stones, which Cousin Maud had given him, from his neck-kerchief, to
offer it to his uncle; but the elder would have nothing to say to such
foolishness, and pushed the pin away. But then when my brother did not
cease, but besought him to accept it, inasmuch as he cared so greatly
for his uncle's fatherly kindness, the old knight cried that he wanted
no such sparkling finery, but that the day might come when he should
require some payment and that Herdegen was then to remember that he was
in his debt.

At this minute they were hindered from further speech by the servants,
who came in to bid us to supper, and there stood ready wild fowl and
fish, fruits and pastry, with the rarest wines and the richest vessels;
the great middle table and the side buffet alike made such a show as
though Pomona, Ceres, Bacchus, and Plutus had heaped it with prodigal
hand. Yet was there no provision for merry-making. My grand-uncle loved
to be quit of his guests at an early hour; hence no table was laid for
them to sit down to meat, and each one held his plate in one hand.

Presently