ed, to her nose, the Court apothecary questioned her hastily: "Do
you think that I have always acted like a man, diligently striving for
the good of himself and his house?"

Some strange change seemed to take place in Frau Vorkel; she planted
her hands on her hips most disrespectfully--a thing she never did except
perhaps when she was scolding the maid or the butcher boy--and laughed
loud and scornfully: "My, what a question! You may, perhaps, have a
larger stock of useless information than an old woman like me,--though
strictly speaking I cannot be called an old woman yet--but despite my
being stupid and a 'goose,' I have always been wiser than you, and
I know which side one's bread is buttered on. Bless me! And is there
anything more idiotic than that you, the father of the best son in the
world, should sit here alone, fretting yourself yellow and lean until
from a stately looking man you grow to be a scarecrow, when one word
from you would bring your only child back again and with him the wife
and sweet grandchild, that you might all enjoy life together! If that
isn't sheer folly and a sin and a shame...."

Here she checked herself, for her habitually decorous master stood
before her in his night shirt, barefooted, and laughed loud and merrily,
clapping himself boisterously on his wasted ribs and on the shrunken
thighs that carried his thin body. The precise widow was very much
upset, she was also horrified at the insolent answer which,--she knew
not how,--had just passed her lips. She endeavored to find some words of
excuse but they were not necessary, for the Court apothecary called out,
"Magnificent! Glorious! May all the saints be praised, we have found
it." And before the worthy woman knew what he was about the gray-haired
invalid had caught her in his arms and kissed her heartily on both
cheeks. But the happy excitement had been too much for him and with a
low groan he sank down on the edge of the bed and sobbed bitterly.

Frau Vorkel was greatly disturbed for she guessed--and it would seem
with reason--that her good master had gone out of his mind. But she
presently changed her opinion, for after he had cried unrestrainedly
until he was exhausted, Herr Ueberhell gave her a prompt proof of his
sanity and returning health. In his kindly and polite manner of former
times, he begged her to set out in the kitchen a bottle of the oldest
and best Bacharacher. There he bade her bring a second glass and invited
her t