gen what his fate should be: that he must leave
Nuremberg on the morrow at the same hour; and to my dying day I shall
ever remember with gladness and regret the meal we then sat down to with
our nearest and dearest.

Cousin Maud called it her darling's condemnation supper. She had watched
the cooking of every dish in the kitchen, and chosen the finest wine out
of the cellar. Yet the victual might have been oatmeal porridge, and the
noble liquor the smallest beer, and it would have been no matter to our
great, albeit melancholy gladness. And indeed, no man could have gazed at
the pair now come together again after so many perils, and not have felt
his heart uplifted. Ah! and how dear to me were those twain! They had
learnt that life was as nothing to either of them without the other, and
their hearts meseemed were henceforth as closely knit as two streams
which flow together to make one river, and whose waters no power on earth
can ever sunder. They sat with us, but behind great posies of flowers, as
it were in an isle of bliss; yet were they in our midst, and showed how
glad it made them to have so many loving hearts about them.
Notwithstanding her joy and trouble Ann forgot not her duty as
"watchman," and threatened Uncle Christian when he would take more than
he should of the good liquor. He, however, declared that this day was
under the special favor of the Saints, and that no evil could in any wise
befall him. My Forest-uncle and Master Pernhart had been found in
discourse together, and the matter of which they spoke was my Cousin
Gotz. And how it gladdened the father to speak of his far-off son! More
especially when Pernhart's lips overflowed with praise of the youth to
whom his only child owed her early death.

Most marvellous of all was the Magister. Herdegen's return to his beloved
robbed Master Peter of his last hope; nevertheless his eyes had never
rested on her with fonder rapture. Verily his faithful heart was warmed
as it were by the happiness which surrounded her as with a glory, and
indeed it was not without some doubts that I saw the worthy man, who was
wont to be so sober, raise his glass again and again to drink to Ann,
whether she marked him or not, and drain his glass each time in her
honor. My Uncle Christian likewise filled his cup right diligently, and
seeing him quaff it with such lusty good will I feared lest he should
keep us all night at table, when the time was short for Ann and my
brother t