inhold; "for Master Martin will be
in a fine temper, after all that good cheer, and disposed to grant our
requests."

And presently Master Martin--to whom they had caused their coming to be
announced--came out to them, in festal attire, and with no small amount
of rubicundity of nose and cheeks. As soon as he saw Friedrich, he
cried out, "Aha, Friedrich, good lad, thou art home again! That is
well; and thou hast betaken thyself to the noble cooper-craft, too! No
doubt Herr Holzschuer makes terrible faces when thy name is mentioned,
and says a really great artist is spoilt in thee, and that thou couldst
very likely have cast all sorts of little niminy-piminy figures, like
those in St. Sebald's--that, and trellis-work, such as there is in
Fugger's house in Augsburg. Stupid stuff and nonsense; thou hast done
the proper thing in turning to what is right; many thousand welcomes to
thee." With which Master Martin took him by the shoulders and embraced
him, according to his wont when highly pleased. Friedrich completely
revived at Master Martin's kind reception of him. All his bashfulness
abandoned him: he not only laid his own desires before Master Martin,
fully and unhesitatingly, but begged him to take Reinhold into his
service too.

"Well," said Master Martin, "you could not possibly have come at a
better time; there is heaps of work, and I'm greatly in need of men.
You are both heartily welcome. Take off your bundles and come in;
dinner is nearly done, but there is room at the table, and Rosa will
take every care of you." And Master Martin went in with the two
journeymen.

The worthy and honourable masters were all seated there, Herr
Paumgartner in the place of honour. Their faces were all aglow;
dessert was just served, and a noble wine was pearling in the great
drinking-glasses. Matters had arrived at a point when each of the
masters was talking, very loud, about something different from all the
others, yet they all thought they quite followed and understood; and
now one, and now another, laughed loud, without quite knowing why or
wherefore. But when Master Martin, with Friedrich and Reinhold in
either hand, announced that those two fine young journeymen, with good
certificates, the sort of fellows after his own heart, had come
offering to work for him, all grew silent, and everybody looked at the
handsome lads with a pleasant satisfaction. Reinhold glanced round him
with his clear eyes, almost proudly; but Friedric