had been helping Dame Giovanna to tend the sick grandmother. The lantern
Eppelein carried in front of us was not so bright as the sun, yet could I
see full plainly the old woman's venomous eye; and what high dudgeon
sounded in her voice! Each one had his meed, even my Hans, to whom she
cried: "Keep thy bride out of Porro's way, Master Haller. It ill-beseems
the promised wife of a worshipful Councillor to be casting her lot in
with a Fool! Howbeit, to laugh is better than to weep, and he laughs
longest who laughs last!" And thereupon she herself laughed loudly and,
with a scornful nod to Ann, turned her back on us.

All was still in Master Pernharts' house; he himself had gone to rest.
At Herdegen's bidding we followed him into the hall, and there he clasped
Ann to his heart, and declared to us that now, and henceforth for ever,
they were one. Whereupon we each and all embraced; but my friend clung
longest to me, and whispered in my ear that she was happier than ever she
could deserve to be. Herdegen asked me whether now he had made all
right, and whether I would be the same old Margery again? And I right
gladly put up my lips for his to kiss; and the returned prodigal, who had
come back to that which was his best portion, was like one drunk with
wine. He was beside himself with joy, so that he clasped first me and
then Hans in his arms, and slapped Eppelein, who carried a lantern to
show us the pools left by the storm of rain, again and again on the
shoulder, and thrust a purse full of money into his free hand, albeit
there was an end now of my grand-uncle's golden bounty. Nought would
persuade him to go back to the dancing-hall, to meet Ursula and her kin;
and when he presently departed from us we heard him along the street,
singing such a love song as no false heart may imagine, as glad as the
larks which would now ere long be soaring to the sky.

We got back to the great hall. The dancing and music were yet at their