ue on one side and yellow on the other. But Adam pushed
them angrily aside. Ulrich's pleasure in the gay stuff reminded him of
his wife's outfit, the pink and green gowns.

So he bought two dark suits, which fitted the lad's erect figure as
if moulded upon him, and when the latter stood before him in the inn,
neatly dressed, with shoes on his feet, and a student's cap on his head,
Adam could not help gazing at him almost idolatrously.

The tavern-keeper whispered to the smith, that it was long since he had
seen so handsome a young fellow, and the hostess, after bringing the
beer, stroked the boy's curls with her wet hand.

On reaching home, Adam permitted his son to go to the doctor's in his
new clothes; Ruth screamed with joy when she saw him, walked round and
round him, and curiously felt the woollen stuff of the doublet and its
blue slashes, ever and anon clapping her hands in delight.

Her parents had expected that the parting would excite her most
painfully, but she smiled joyously into her playmate's face, when he
bade her farewell, for she took the matter in her usual way, not as it
really was, but as she imagined it to be. Instead of the awkward Ulrich
of the present, the fairy-prince he was now to become stood before her;
he was to return without fail at Christmas, and then how delightful it
would be to play with him again. Of late they had been together even
more than usual, continually seeking for the word, and planning a
thousand delightful things he was to conjure up for her, and she for him
and others.

It was the Sabbath, and on this day old Rahel always dressed the child
in a little yellow silk frock, while on Sunday her mother did the same.
The gown particularly pleased Ulrich's eye, and when she wore it, he
always became more yielding and obeyed her every wish. So Ruth rejoiced
that it chanced to be the Sabbath, and while she passed her hand over
his doublet, he stroked her silk dress.

They had not much to say to each other, for their tongues always
faltered in the presence of others. The doctor gave Ulrich many an
admonitory word, his wife kissed him, and as a parting remembrance hung
a small gold ring, with a glittering stone, about his neck, and old
Rahel gave him a kerchief full of freshly-baked cakes to eat on his way.

At noon on St. John's day, Ulrich and his father stood before the gate
of the monastery. Servants and mettled steeds were waiting there, and
the porter, pointing to them, s