he old woman looked first at her son and then at my
grand-uncle, and shook her head; nevertheless she put a good face on
a bad case, gave Sir Franz her hand to kiss, and was duly embraced by
Ursula; yet she sat nodding her head up and down, and ever more shrewdly
as she heard the bridegroom cough. Amazement sat indeed on the faces of
all the guests; howbeit the ice was broken, and the silent and gloomy
company had on a sudden turned right mirthful. Cousin Maud, meseemed,
was the most content of all. Ursula's betrothal had rescued her favorite
from great peril, and henceforth her plumed head-gear was at rest once
more.

All about me was talk and laughter, glasses ringing, voices uplifted in
set speeches, and many a shout of gratulation. When a betrothal is in
the wind, folks ever believe that they have hold of the guiding clue to
happiness, even if it be between a simpleton and a deaf mute.

The seat on my left hand, which my lover should have filled, remained
empty; on my right sat his reverence Master Sebald Schurstab, the
minorite preacher and prior who, so soon as he had spoken in honor of
one toast, fixed his eyes on the board and thought only of the next.
Thus, in the midst of all this mirthful fellowship, there was nought to
hinder my fears and hopes from taking their way. Each time that a cry of
"Hoch!" was raised, I roused me and joined in; scarce knowing, however,
in whose honor. Likewise the hall waxed hotter and hotter, and the air
right heavy to breathe.

To-day again, as yesterday, a storm burst over us. Albeit the sun was
not yet set, it was presently so dark that lights had been brought
in and fifty tapers in the silver candlesticks added to the heat. The
lightning flashes glared in at the curtained windows like a flitting
lamp, and the roar of the thunder shook the panes which rattled and
clanked in their leaden frames. The reverend Prior called on the blessed
saints whose special protection this house had never neglected to
secure, and crossed himself. We all did the same, and had soon forgotten
the storm without. The glasses ere long were clinking once more. I
watched the numberless dishes borne in and out-roasted peacocks, with
showy spread tails and crested heads raised as it were in defiance:
boars' heads with a lemon in their mouth and gaily wreathed; huge salmon
lying in the midst of blue trout, with scarlet crawfish clinging to
them; pasties and skilfully-devised sweetmeats; nay, now and again,