e so much as that, for certain
somewhat lay behind it.--And now, Margery--when I see you--when I
consider. . . ." Here, as I cast a meaning glance at the Chaplain, on a
sudden she shrieked with such a yell as pierced my bones and marrow; and
or ever I saw her, her weak, lean hand had clutched my wrist, and she
cried in a hoarse voice:

"Then you, you have hid somewhat from me! The look wherewith you warned
the Chaplain, oh! I marked it well.--And you hesitate--and
now--you--Margery--Margery! By Christ's wounds I ask you, Margery. What
is it?--What of Gotz? Has he . . . out with it--out with the truth. . . .
Has he written?--No.--You shake your head. . . . Merciful Virgin!
He--he--Gotz is on his way Home wards." And she clapped her hands over
her face. I fell on my knees by her side, dragged first her left hand and
then her right hand away from her eyes, covered them with kisses, and
whispered to her: "Yes, yes, Aunt, Mother, sweet, dear little mother!
Only wait--You shall hear all. Gotz is weary of wandering; he had not
forgotten his father and mother, nor me, his little Red-riding-hood--I
know it, I am sure of it. Patience! only a little patience and he will be
here--in Germany, in Franconia, in Nuremberg, in the forest, in the
house, in this hall, here, here where I am kneeling, at your feet, in
your arms!"

Then the deeply-moved dame, who had listened to me breathless, flung her
hands high in the air as if she were seeking somewhat, and it was as
though her eyes turned inside out; and I was seized with sudden terror,
inasmuch as I deemed that she had drunk death out of the overfull cup of
joy that my hand had put to her lips. Howbeit, it was but a brief swoon
which had come upon her, and as soon as she had come to herself again and
I had told her the whole truth, little by little and with due caution,
even that Gotz and I had found each other and both fervently and
earnestly longed for her motherly blessing, she gave it me in rich
abundance.

Now was it my part to make known to her that her returned son held fast
to his oath; and I had already begun to tell her this when she waved her
hands, and eagerly broke in: "And do you think I ever looked that he, who
is a Waldstromer and a Behaim both in one, should ever break a vow? And
of a truth he hath given me time enough to consider of it!--But to-day,
this very day, early in the morning I found the right way out of the
matter, albeit it is as like a trick of woman's