"He shall suffer for it, the spiteful, ungrateful brute! Let me
alone, mother!" cried Ebbo, stamping on the snow, but still from
habit yielding to her hand on his shoulder.
"What now?" demanded the old Baroness, appearing on the scene. "Who
is thwarting the Baron?"
"She; she will not let me deal with yonder savage whelp," cried the
boy.
"She! Take thy way, child," said the old lady. "Visit him well for
his malice. None shall withstand thee here. At thy peril!" she
added, turning on Christina. "What, art not content to have brought
base mechanical blood into a noble house? Wouldst make slaves and
cowards of its sons?"
"I would teach them true courage, not cruelty," she tried to say.
"What should such as thou know of courage? Look here, girl: another
word to daunt the spirit of my grandsons, and I'll have thee scourged
down the mountain-side! On! At him, Ebbo! That's my gallant young
knight! Out of the way, girl, with thy whining looks! What,
Friedel, be a man, and aid thy brother! Has she made thee a puling
woman already?" And Kunigunde laid an ungentle grasp upon Friedmund,
who was clinging to his mother, hiding his face in her gown.
Pages:
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217