hem both?"

"That I do, and that is the very matter," she broke in sadly enough.
"Herdegen, and Ann! Why, I know not which I hold the dearer. But find me
a wiser man in all Nuremberg than your grand-uncle. But verily, merciful
Virgin, I know not what I would be at--I know not...!"

On this I forgot the respect due to her and put in: "You know not?" And
whereas she made no reply, I railed at her, saying: "And yet you gave
her the linen, and half the matters for her house-gear as a Christmas
gift, as though they were known for a bride and groom to all the town.
As old as you are and as wise, can you take pleasure in a love-match and
even speed it forward as you have done, and yet purpose in your soul to
hinder it at last? And is this the truth and honesty whereof early and
late you have ever taught me? Is this being upright and faithful, or not
rather speaking with two tongues?"

My fiery blood had again played me an evil trick, and I repented me when
I perceived what great grief my violent speech had wrought in the dear
soul. Never had I beheld her so feeble and doubting, and in a minute I
was in her arms and a third person might have marvelled to hear us each
craving pardon, she for her faint-hearted fears, and I for my unseemly
outbreak. But in that hour I became her friend, and ceased to be no more
than her child and fondling.

Herdegen was to be ready to set forth before Passion week; but ere he
quitted home he made all the city ring with his praises, for, whereas
he had hitherto won fame in the school of arms only, by the strength and
skill of his arm, he now outdid every other in the procession of masks.
Albeit this custom is still kept up to this very day, yet many an one
may have forgotten how it first had its rise, although in my young days
it was well known to most folks.

This then is to record, that in the days when the guilds were in revolt
against the city council, the cutlers and the fleshers alone remained
true to the noble families, and whereas they refused to take any guerdon
for their faithfulness, which must have been paid them at the cost of
the rest, they craved no more than the right of a making a goodly show
in a dance and procession at the Carnival; and they were by the same
token privileged at that time to wear apparel of velvet and silk, like
gentle folks of noble and knightly degree.

Now this dance and its appurtenances were known at the masked show,
and inasmuch as the aid of the gover