could not hear, as she was wont to do when something rubbed her against
the grain; then she said with emphasis: "But child, my poor child, love,
and wounded pride, and heart-ache have turned your heart and good sense.
I am an old woman, and I thank God can see more clearly. It is real,
true love, pleasing to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, aye and to the
merciful Virgin and all the saints who protect you, which has bound you
and Herdegen together from your infancy. He, though faithless and a
sinner, still bears his love in his heart and you have not been able to
root yours up and cast it out. He has done his worst, and in doing it--
remember his letter--in doing it, I say, has poisoned his own young life
already. In that Babel called Paris he does but reel from one pleasure
to another. But how long can that last? Do you not see, as I see, that
the day must come when, sickened and loathing all this folly he will deem
himself the most wretched soul on earth, and look about him for the firm
shore as a sailor does who is tossed about in a leaking ship at sea?
Then will he call to mind the past, his childhood and youth, his pure
love and yours. Then you yourself, you, Ann, will be the island haven
for which he will long. Then--aye, child, it is so, you will be the only
creature that may help him; and if you really crave to create happiness--
if your love is as true as--not so long ago--you declared it to be, on
your knees before me and with scalding tears, he, and not Master Peter
must be the first on whom you should carry out your day-dreams--for I
know not what other name to give to such vain imaginings."

At this Ann sobbed aloud and wrung her hands, crying: "But he cast me
off, sold me for gold and silver. Can I, whom he has flung into the
dust, seek to go after him? Would it beseem an honest and shamefaced
maid if I called him back to me? He is happy--and he will still be happy
for many long, long years amid his reckless companions; if the time
should ever come of which you speak, most worshipful lady, even then he