was, and Ann flung herself on her knees by the bed, and it was right piteous to hear her cry:  “Poor, faithful Eppelein!” and many other good words in low and loving tones.  Yet did he not hear nor understand, inasmuch as he was not in his senses.  For the present there was nought of tidings to be had from him, and this was all the greater pity by reason that the thieves had stripped off his clothes, even to his boots, and thus, if he were the bearer of any writing, he might now never deliver it.  Yet he had come with some message.  When the men left us there Ann bent over him and laid a wet kerchief on his hot head, and he presently opened his eyes a little way, and pointed with his left hand, which was sound, to the end of the bed-place where his feet lay, and murmured, scarce to be heard and as though he were lost:  “The letter, oh, the letter!” But then he lost his senses; and presently he said the same words again and again.  So his heart and brain were full of one thing, and that was the letter which some one—­and who else than his well-beloved Master—­had straitly charged him to deliver rightly.

Every word he might speak in his fever might give us some important tidings, and when at midnight my aunt bid us go to bed, Ann declared it to be her purpose to keep watch by Eppelein all night, and I would not for the world have quitted her at such a moment.  And whereas she well knew Master Ulsenius, and had already lent a helping hand of her own free will to old Uhlwurm, the tending the sick man was wholly given over to her; and I sat me down by the fire, gazing sometimes at the leaping flames and flying sparks, and sometimes at the sick-bed and at all Ann was doing.  Then I waxed sleepy, and the hours flew past while I sat wide awake, or dreaming as I slept for a few minutes.  Then it was morning again, and there was somewhat before my eyes whereof I knew not whether it were happening in very truth, or whether it were still a dream, yet meseemed it was so pleasant that I was still smiling when the house-keeper came in, and that chased sleep away.  I thought I had seen Ann lead ugly old Uhlwurm to the window, and stroke down his rough cheeks with her soft small hand.  This being all unlike her wonted timid modesty, it amused me all the more, and the old man’s demeanor likewise had made me smile; he was surly, and notwithstanding courteous to her and had said to her I know not what.  Now, when I was wide-awake, Ann had indeed departed, and the house-wife had seen her quit the house and walk towards the stables, following old Uhlwurm.

Hereupon a strange unrest fell upon me, and when Kubbeling presently answered to my questioning that old Uhlwurm had craved leave to be absent till noon, to the end that he might go to the very spot where they had found Eppelein, and make search for that letter which he doubtless had had on his person, I plainly saw wherefor Ann had beguiled the old man.

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: