day. My lover and I, now in right good heart once more, paced through
the Polish dance led by the King and Queen. Ann's mother had been
compelled to stay at home, to tend the master's old mother, and my friend
had come under Cousin Maud's protection. She was led out to dance by
Junker Henning; his fellow country-man, Sir Apitz von Rochow, walked with
Ursula and courted her with unfailing ardor. Franz von Welemisl, who was
wont to creep like her shadow, and who was again a guest at the Tetzels'
house, had been kept within doors by the cough that plagued him.
Likewise I looked in vain for Herdegen.

The first dance indeed was ended when he came in with my great-uncle; but
the old knight looked less confidently than he had done in the morning.

Ann was pale, but, meseemed fairer than ever in a dress of pomegranate-
red and white brocade, sent to her from Italy by her step-father's
brother, My lord Bishop, by the hand of Cardinal Branda. As soon as I
had presently begun to speak with her, she was carried off by Junker
Henning, and at that same moment my grand-uncle came towards me to ask
who was that fair damsel of such noble beauty with whom I was but now
speaking. He had never till now beheld Ann close at hand, and how gladly
did I reply that this was the daughter of Pernhart the town Councillor
and she to whom Herdegen had plighted his faith.

The old man was startled and full wroth yet, by reason of all the fine
folk about us, he was bound to refrain himself, and he presently
departed.

The festival went forward and I saw that Herdegen danced first with
Ursula and then with Ann. Then they stood still near the flower shrubs
which were placed round about the hall to garnish it, and it might have