“Here they both are!” said the old man to the child.  “Look, Erard, and see whether the chevalier hates thy father.  See, if what Ethbert told me was not true!

“This dear child,” added he, “had some fears for his father:  for he knows all, Theobald.”

Theobald, (with tenderness.) Come, then, Erard, and give me your hand.  Come, my child, and also pardon me.  O, how I need pardon from every heart here!  Say, Erard, will you not forgive me?

Erard, (giving his hand to the chevalier.) I love you much, since my 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 having bound up with his trembling hands the wounds of a stranger—­of an enemy—­afterwards to bestow all the treasures of his kindness, and more than paternal charity, on him whose hands he supposed to be stained with the blood of his son!  O, may this Jesus, who makes us love, reveal himself in my soul also!  Arnold, my dear Arnold! teach me to know him!

“Theobald,” replied Arnold, “he who desires to know Jesus is no longer a stranger to his love.”

Theobald.  And yet, my true friends, how far am I still from that charity which flows in your hearts like a river!  You have pardoned even me; and you can love, pity, succor, and console your enemies!  Arnold, it is to Hildegarde that your father is going—­to her who, shall I tell you? caused the eyes of two of your brethren to be put out!

Arnold.  No, Theobald, no; you could not have done that!

Theobald, (with a groan.) O, what was our injustice!—­our cruelty! (He weeps.) And when their eyes were pierced, they stretched out their hands on all sides, saying, “Where are you, lord of Rothenwald, that we may take your hand and pardon you in the name of Jesus!”