day when my aunt’s waiting-woman had fared forth on a pilgrimage to Vierzelmheiligen, and my uncle likewise being out of the way, the leech called us to him to lend him a helping hand.  Then I came to know that a fall unawares with her horse had been the beginning of my aunt’s long sickness.  She had at that time done her backbone a mischief, and some few months later a wound had broken forth which was part of her hurt.

Now when all was made ready Aunt Jacoba begged of Ann that she should hold the sore closed while Master Ulsenius made the linen bands wet.  I remembered my friend’s weakness and came close to her, to take her place unmarked; but she whispered:  “Nay, leave me,” in a commanding voice, so that I saw full well she meant it in earnest, and withdrew without a word.  And then I beheld a noble sight; for though she was pale she did as she was bidden, nor did she turn her eyes off the wound.  But her bosom rose and fell fast, as if some danger threatened her, and her nostrils quivered, and I was minded to hold out my arms to save her from falling.  But she stood firm till all was done, and none but I was aware of her having defied the base foe with such true valor.

Thenceforth she ever did me good service without shrinking; and whensoever thereafter I had some hateful duty to do which meseemed I might never bring myself to fulfil, I would remember Ann holding my aunt’s wound.  And out of all this grew the good saying, “They who will, can”—­which the children are wont to call my motto.

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: 

As every word came straight from her heart
Be cautious how they are compassionate
Beware lest Satan find thee idle! 
Brought imagination to bear on my pastimes
Comparing their own fair lot with the evil lot of others
Faith and knowledge are things apart
Flee from hate as the soul’s worst foe
For the sake of those eyes you forgot all else
Her eyes were like open windows
Last Day we shall be called to account for every word we utter
Laugh at him with friendly mockery, such as hurts no man
Maid who gives hope to a suitor though she has no mind to hear
May they avoid the rocks on which I have bruised my feet
Men folks thought more about me than I deemed convenient
No man gains profit by any experience other than his own
One of those women who will not bear to be withstood
The god Amor is the best schoolmaster
They who will, can
When men-children deem maids to be weak and unfit for true sport

*** End of the project gutenberg EBOOK Margery, by Georg Ebers, V1 ***

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