At least she had had the Church's
blessing--but that, strange to say, was regarded, in burgher life
before the Reformation, as rather the ornament of a noble marriage
than as essential to the civil contract; and a marriage by a priest
was regarded by the citizens rather as a means of eluding the need of
obtaining the parent's consent, than as a more regular and devout
manner of wedding. However, Christina felt this the one drop of
peace. The blessings and prayers were warm at her heart, and gave
her hope. And as to drops of joy, of them there was no lack, for had
not she now a right to love Eberhard with all her heart and
conscience, and was not it a wonderful love on his part that had made
him stoop to the little white-faced burgher maid, despised even by
her own father? O better far to wear the maiden's uncovered head for
him than the myrtle wreath for any one else!
CHAPTER VII: THE SCHNEIDERLEIN'S RETURN
The poor little unowned bride had more to undergo than her
imagination had conceived at the first moment.
When she heard that the marriage was to be a secret, she had not
understood that Eberhard was by no means disposed to observe much
more caution than mere silence.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167