excellently with the rape-stalks; but the other burning, of which the
story was to be told, it did not yet arrive at an outbreak! It might be
expected, however, any hour in the day.

In the evening Otto walked alone through the great chestnut avenue.
The moon shone brightly between the tree-branches. When he entered the
interior court Wilhelm and Sophie skipped toward him, but softly, very
softly. They lifted their hands as if to impress silence.

"Come and see!" said Sophie; "it is a scene which might be painted! it
goes on merrily in the servants' hall; one can see charmingly through
the window!"

"Yes, come!" said Wilhelm.

Otto stole softly forward. The lights shone forth.

Within there was laughter and loud talking; one struck upon the table,
another sung,--

"And I will away to Prussia land,
Hurrah!
And when I am come to Prussia land,
Hurrah!" [Note: People's song.]

Otto looked in through the window.

Several men and maids sat within at the long wooden table at the end
of this stood Sidsel in a bent attitude, her countenance was of a deep
crimson; she spoke a loud oath and laughed--no one imagined that they
were observed. All eyes were riveted upon a great fellow who, with his
shirt-sleeves rolled up, and a pewter tankard in his hand, was standing
there. It was the German Heinrich, who was exhibiting to them his
conjuring tricks. Otto turned pale; had the dead arisen from the bier
before him it could not have shocked him more.

"Hocus-pocus Larifari!" cried Heinrich within, and gave the tankard to a
half-grown fellow, of the age between boy and man.

"If thou hast already a sweetheart," said he; "then the corn which is
within it will be turned to flour; but if thou art still only a young
cuckoo, then it will remain only groats."

"Nay, Anders Peersen!" said all the girls laughing, "now we shall see
whether thou art a regular fellow!"

Sophie stole away.

The echoing laughter and clapping of hands announced the result.

"Is it not the same person who was playing conjuring tricks in the
park?" inquired Wilhelm.

"Yes, certainly," replied Otto; "he is to me quite repulsive!" And so
saying, he followed Sophie.

Late in the evening, when all had betaken themselves to rest, Wilhelm
proposed to Otto that they should make a little tour, as he called it.

"I fancy Meg Merrilies, as my sister calls Sidsel," said he, "has made
a conquest of the conjuror, al