father loves you.

"Well, my son!" said Gottfried. "Go now to Ethbert, and tell him to be
in readiness to accompany me."

_Theobald_. Shall you leave us again? Will it be for many hours?

_Gottfried_. It is on your behalf, chevalier, that I must now act. The
express which we expected, did not come, and I feared that my message
had not reached your dear Hildegarde. I, therefore, went myself to tell
her of your welfare.

_Theobald_. Is it possible! O, tell me if all is well with her!

_Gottfried_. Thanks to God, Hildegarde and her precious children are
well--very well. She has been very anxious until last night. My message
did not reach her until then; and her express, who did not start until
day-break, was detained on the way. I met him, and bring you more than
he would have said himself.

_Theobald_. She knows, then, that her husband is---- with the Count of
Winkelthal?

_Gottfried_. Hildegarde knows that her husband is with his friends, and
she blesses God with us.

"Theobald," added Gottfried, "there should be no difference between us.
Jesus will unite us by his grace."

_Theobald_. As he has already done, has he not? The old father, after