in's image
from his heart; but now that he came again in contact with the
influence of the lady of Lichtenstein, poor Dieterich von Kraft felt
all his old wounds bleed afresh. What was the power which worked in so
different a manner upon his feelings was a question beyond his
comprehension. Though there was the same dignity, the same expression,
which commands the respect and admiration of the beholder, her eye was
now animated with placid joy, a pleasing smile played on her lips, and
her cheeks bloomed with unalloyed happiness. Dieterich von Kraft had
made these observations in speechless astonishment, when the old knight
first noticed him. "Do my eyes deceive me?" he cried, "Dieterich von
Kraft, my nephew! What brings you to Stuttgardt? Perhaps you come to
the wedding of my daughter with Albert von Sturmfeder? But how you
look! What's the matter with you? How pale and miserable your whole
appearance, and your clothes hang about your body all in rags! What has
happened?"

The scribe eyed his rose-coloured gown in despair and dismay, and
blushed; "God knows!" he said, "I am ashamed to shew myself before any
decent person. These cursed Wuertembergers, these vine-dressers and
contemptible shoemakers, have mangled me in this way. Verily, and in
truth, the whole illustrious League has been attacked and insulted in
my individual person!"

"You ought to be thankful, cousin, that it was no worse," said Albert,
as he led the travellers into his apartment; "only think, father, last
night, when we stood before the gates, he was exciting the burghers to
rebellion against us, for which the chancellor wanted to have his head
this morning. It was with very great difficulty I could persuade the
Duke to pardon him; and now he complains of the Wuertembergers having
torn his cloak."

"With your gracious permission," said Mrs. Rosel, the old nurse, and
curtsied three times to the scribe, "if my assistance is agreeable,
I'll mend the gown, so that you shall not know it has been torn. The
proverb says,

'If the young man his new gown has torn,
The old woman can mend it fit to be worn.'"

Dieterich von Kraft accepted the offer with many thanks. He retired to
a window with old Rosel, when she pulled out of her large leather
pocket all the necessary articles for the purpose of repairing his
damages. She entertained him upon the inexhaustible subject of
housekeeping, particularly upon the important science of dress