The ropedancer remembered this statement, questioned other Bacchantes about these things, and heard the doctrine of the transmigration of the soul confirmed.  Hence, during many a solitary ride, while the cart rolled slowly along, she pondered over the thought that Juliane’s soul had lived again in foolish Julie.  How?  Why?  She did not rack her brains on those points.  What had been a fancy, slowly became a fixed belief in the mind thus constantly dwelling upon one idea.  At last she imagined that whatever she did for Cyriax’s child benefited the soul of the little Augsburg girl, whose life had been shortened by her wicked prayer on the rope.

Yet she had not bought the indulgence in vain.  But for that, she believed that Juliane’s soul would still be burning in the flames of purgatory.  The indulgence of the “Inquisitor” Tetzel had proved its power, and rescued her from the fire.  To demonstrate this fact she devised many a proof.  For instance, one day the idea entered her mind that foolish Juli’s brain was so weak because Juliane, during her brief existence, had used more of hers than was fair.

At first this had been a mere fancy; but, true to her nature, she reverted to it again and again, while in the cart which she alone shared with the child, until it had matured to an immovable conviction.  During her changeful, wandering life, she had had no fixed religious principles.  But, since the notion had entered her mind that Lienhard would reward her for her love by giving her a share, even though a very small one, of his heart, she had clung tenaciously to it, in spite of all rebuffs and the offensive indifference with which he had treated her.  On her sick bed and during her convalescence, she had dwelt upon the fear that her sinful prayer had killed the little wearer of the laurel wreath, until she could say to herself that events had proved it.  With the same firmness she now held to the belief that she had found the right idea concerning little Juli’s soul.

With the passionate desire to atone to the patrician’s daughter for the wrong which she had inflicted upon her, she clasped the vagabond’s child to her heart with the love of the most faithful mother, and her affectionate care seemed to benefit herself as well as the ailing little one.  Juli was as devoted to her Kuni as a faithful dog.  The kindness which the lame ropedancer showed to the fragile child was lavishly returned to her by a thousand proofs of the warmest attachment.

So Kuni had found one heart which kept its whole treasure of love for her alone, one creature who could not do without her, one fragile human plant to which she could be useful and helpful day and night.