Thus, adorned as she had been on the day of the wedding at Endringen, Amrei came down from her room.

“What is this?  What did you dress yourself up like that for?” cried Rose angrily.  She was already anxious and impatient because the visitor was so long in making his appearance.  “Why do you put all your possessions on?  Is that a fit necklace for a servant, with a coin hanging to it?  You take that off directly!”

“No, I shall not do that; for his mother gave it to me when I was a little child, and I had it on when we danced together at Endringen.”

Something was heard to fall on the staircase; but nobody heeded it, for Rose screamed out: 

“What!  You good-for-nothing, horrible witch!  You would have perished in rags if we had not taken you up!  And now you want to take my betrothed from me!”

“Don’t call him that until he is your betrothed,” replied Amrei, with a strange mixture of feelings in her voice.

“Wait!  I’ll show you what you’ve got to do!” shrieked Rose.  “Take that!” and she dragged Barefoot down to the ground and struck her in the face.

“I’ll take my things off!  Let me go!” screamed Barefoot.

But Rose let go before she had finished saying it; for, as if he had risen out of the ground, John was standing before her!  He was as pale as death, and his lips were quivering.  He could not speak, but merely raised his hand to protect Barefoot, who was still kneeling on the floor.

Barefoot was the first to speak; she cried out: 

“Believe me, John, I have never seen her like that before, never in my whole life!  And it was my fault.”

“Yes, it was your fault.  And, now, come; you shall go with me and be mine.  Will you?  I have found you, and I did not seek you.  But now you shall live with me and be my wife.  It is God’s will.”

If any one could have seen Barefoot’s eyes then!  But no mortal eye has ever fully seen a flash of lightning in the heavens, for no matter how firmly we look, our eyes are sure to be dazzled.  And there are also flashes in the human eye which are never fully seen, just as there are workings in the human heart which are never fully understood.  A momentary flash of joy, such as may brighten the face when the heavens are opened, darted from Amrei’s eyes.  She covered her face with both hands, and the tears ran forth from between her fingers.

John stood with his hand upon her.  All the relatives had gathered around, and were gazing with astonishment at the strange scene.

“What’s all this with Barefoot?  What’s all this?” blustered Farmer Rodel.

“So, your name is Barefoot?” cried John.  He laughed loud and heartily, and added:  “Come, now, will you have me?  Say so now, for here we have witnesses to confirm it.  Say ‘Yes,’ and nothing but death shall part us!”

“Yes!—­and nothing but death shall part us!” cried Barefoot, throwing herself on his neck.