st statues himself, he
was yet able to give me a good introduction to the art. And Herr Tobias
Martin, the master-cooper, often came to Herr Holzschuer's with his
daughter, pretty Rose. Without being consciously aware of it, I fell in
love with her. I then left home and went to Augsburg in order to learn
properly the art of casting, but this first caused my smouldering
passion to burst out into flames. I saw and heard nothing but Rose;
every exertion and all labour that did not tend to the winning of her
grew hateful to me. And so I adopted the only course that would bring
me to this goal. For Master Martin will only give his daughter to the
cooper who shall make the very best masterpiece in his house, and who
of course finds favour in his daughter's eyes as well. I deserted my
own art to learn cooperage. I am now going to Nuremberg to work for
Master Martin. But now that my home lies before me and Rose's image
rises up before my eyes, I feel overcome with anxiety and nervousness,
and my heart sinks within me. Now I see clearly how foolishly I have
acted; for I don't even know whether Rose loves me or whether she ever
will love me." Reinhold had listened to Frederick's story with
increasing attention. He now rested his head on his arm, and, shading
his eyes with his hand, asked in a hollow moody voice, "And has Rose
never given you any signs of her love?" "Nay," replied Frederick, "nay,
for when I left Nuremberg she was more a child than a maiden. No doubt
she liked me; she smiled upon me most sweetly when I never wearied
plucking flowers for her in Herr Holzschuer's garden and weaving them
into wreaths, but----" "Oh! then all hope is not yet lost," cried
Reinhold suddenly, and so vehemently and in such a disagreeably shrill
voice that Frederick was almost terrified. At the same time he leapt to
his feet, his sword rattling against his side, and as he stood upright
at his full stature the deep shadows of the night fell upon his pale
face and distorted his gentle features in a most unpleasant way, so
that Frederick cried, perfectly alarmed, "What's happened to you all at
once?" and stepping back, his foot knocked against Reinhold's bundle.
There proceeded from it the jarring of some stringed instrument, and
Reinhold cried angrily, "You ill-mannered fellow, don't break my lute
all to pieces." The instrument was fastened to the bundle; Reinhold
unbuckled it and ran his fingers wildly over the strings as if he would
break th