“Then all the noble relatives at home interfered.  The Holy Inquisition commanded the investigation of the case, and sent a stern vicar general to direct the proceedings of the Dominicans, who had seized the temptress.  Then it came to light that ‘beautiful Susel’ had bewitched the luckless young count and robbed him of reason by her wicked arts.

“The old woman, whom they had also examined, escaped her just punishment because she died of the plague, which was raging here at that time, but ‘beautiful Susel’ was burned, and I looked on while it was done.

“When the Dominicans had led her to the stake, she turned toward the people who had flocked here from all quarters.  Many doubtless pitied her on account of her marvellous beauty, and because the devil had given her the mask of the most touching kindness of heart; but she gazed directly into my face with her large, blue eyes as I stood close by, and for years I saw the witch’s look distinctly before me.  Yet what do we not at last forget?  And now it must happen that what reminded me of her again is my own innocent child!  Wawerl just looked into my eyes as if ’beautiful Susel’ had risen from her grave.  It was not long, yet it seemed as if she shrank in terror from me, her own clear father.  She gazed up at me in helpless despair, as if she feared God and the world.

“I have learned little about shivering, but a chill ran down my spine.  Of course, I did not let her notice anything.  Poor child! after the honour bestowed yesterday, I thought there would be nothing to-day except laughter and loud singing.  But my grandmother used to say that the grief which tortures a young girl—­she herself knows not why—­is the hardest to bear, and then Barbara must now make up her mind about marriage, for, besides you, there are Peter Schlumperger and young Crafft to be considered.

“I remembered all this, and so, as usual, I took her face between my hands to give her her morning kiss.  She always offers me her lips, but to-day she turned away so that my mouth barely brushed her cheeks.  ‘Women’s whims!’ I thought, and therefore let it pass.  You can imagine how glad I should have been to hear something more about yesterday evening, but I made no objection when she wished to go to the chapel at once, because she had overslept the hour of mass.  She would be back again before the porridge was heated.  But the little bowl has stood there probably three quarters of an hour, and we are still waiting in vain.”

Here he paused in his voluble flow of speech, and then burst forth angrily:  “The devil may understand such a girl’s soul!  Usually Wawerl does just the opposite of what one expects; but if she does accept you, she will—­as an honest man I ought not to conceal it from you—­she will give you many a riddle to guess.  Whims and freaks are as plenty with her as buttercups in spring turf; but you can’t find a more pious girl in all Ratisbon.  From ancient times the motto of the Blombergs has been ’Faith, Courage, and Honour,’ and for that very reason it seems to me highly improbable that Wawerl would advise you to accept an office which, after all, will force you to yield to the will of heretical superiors.  The high pay alone will hardly win her.”