ceed in beauty of ornament, in quaintness of architecture,
or in general wealth and comfort, that which was inhabited by Herr
Molk.

Linda stood for a moment at the door, and then putting up her hand,
pulled down the heavy iron bell-handle, which itself was a gem of
art, representing some ancient and discreet burgher of the town,
wrapped in his cloak, and almost hidden by his broad-brimmed hat. She
heard the bell clank close inside the door, and then the portal was
open, as though the very pulling of the bell had opened it. The lock
at least was open, so that Linda could push the door with her hand
and enter over the threshold. This she did, and she found herself
within a long narrow court or yard, round which, one above another,
there ran galleries, open to the court, and guarded with heavy
balustrades of carved wood. From the narrowness of the enclosure, the
house on each side seemed to be very high, and Linda, looking round
with astonished eyes, could see that at every point the wood was
carved. And the waterspouts were ornamented with grotesque figures,
and the huge broad stairs which led to the open galleries on the
left hand were of polished oak, made so slippery with the polishers'
daily care that it was difficult to tread upon them without falling.
All around the bottom of the court there were open granaries or
warehouses; for there seemed to be nothing that could be called a
room on the ground floor, beyond the porter's lodge; and these open
warehouses seemed to be filled full with masses of stacked firewood.
Linda knew well the value of such stores in Nuremberg, and lost none
of her veneration for Herr Molk because of such nature were the signs
of his domestic wealth.

As she timidly looked around her she saw an old woman within the gate
of the porter's lodge, and inquired whether Herr Molk was at home and
disengaged. The woman simply motioned her to the wicket gate by which
the broad polished stairs were guarded. Linda, hesitating to advance
into so grand a mansion alone, and yet knowing that she should do
as she was bidden, entered the wicket and ascended carefully to the
first gallery. Here was another bell ready to her hand, the handle of
which consisted of a little child in iron-work. This also she pulled,
and waited till some one should come. Presently there was a scuffling
heard of quick feet in the gallery, and three children ran up to her.
In the middle was the elder, a girl dressed in dark silk, an