“That was the Emperor Rudolph!” cried Ortel, sure he was right.  “Whoever has once seen him does not forget him.  Everything on earth belongs to him; but when the knight took our flowers so freely just now as if they were his own, I thought But there—­there—­there!  See for yourself, Jungfrau!  A heavy, unclipped yellow zecchin!”

As he spoke he took the coin in his hand, crossed himself, and added thoughtfully:  “The little silver coin, or whatever he flung in here—­perhaps to pay for the flowers, which are not worth five shillings—­has been changed into pure gold by the saint who wrought the miracle for him.  My soul!  If many in Nuremberg paid so high for forage, the rich Eysvogel would leave the Council and go in search of wild flowers!”

Eva begged the man to leave the zecchin, promising to give him another at home and half a pound in coppers as earnest money.  “This is what I call a lucky morning!” cried Ortel.  But directly after he changed his tone, remembering Eva’s white mourning robe and the object of their expedition, and his fresh voice sounded very sympathetic as he added:  “If one could only call your lady mother back to life!  Ah, me!  I’d spend all my savings to buy for the saints as many candles as my mother has in her little shop, if that would change things.”

Whilst speaking he filled the basket with flowers, and the nun helped him.  Eva walked before them with bowed head.

Could she hope to wed the man for whom Heaven had performed such a miracle?  Was it no sin to hope and plead that he would wear their common colour, not in honour of the Queen of Heaven, but of the lowly Eva, in whom nothing was strong save the desire for good?  Was not Heinz forcing her to enter into rivalry with one the most distant comparison with whom meant defeat?  Yet, no!  Her gracious Friend above knew her and her heart.  She knew with what tender love and reverence she had looked up to her from childhood, and she now confided the love in her heart to her who had shown herself gracious a thousand times when she raised her soul to her in prayer.

Eva was breathing heavily when she emerged from the forest and stopped to wait until Sister Perpetua had finished her prayer in the chapel and overtook her.  Her heart was heavy, and when, in the meadow beyond the woods, the heat of the sun, which was already approaching the zenith, made itself felt, it seemed as if she had left the untroubled happiness of childhood behind her in the green thicket.  Yet she would not have missed this forest walk at any price.  She knew now that she had no rival save the one whom Heinz ought to love no less than she.  Whether they both decided in favour of the world or the cloister, they would remain united in love for her and her divine Son.

CHAPTER III.

Outside the courtyard of the Ortlieb mansion Eva saw Biberli going towards the Frauenthor.  He had been with Els a long time, giving a report as frankly as ever.  The day before he said to Katterle:  “Calm yourself, my little lamb.  Now that the daughters need you and me to carry secret messages, the father will leave us in peace too.  A member of the Council would be like the receiver of stolen goods if he allowed a man whom he deemed worthy of the stocks to render him many services.”