"Mother, it is all that I dreamt!" breathlessly murmured Friedel, as
they halted under the dark arch of the great gateway tower.
Not however in Friedel's dreams had been the hearty voice that
proceeded from the lighted guard-room in the thickness of the
gateway. "Freiherrinn von Adlerstein! Is it she? Then must I greet
my old playmate!" And the captain of the watch appeared among
upraised lanterns and torches that showed a broad, smooth, plump face
beneath a plain steel helmet.
"Welcome, gracious lady, welcome to your old city. What! do you not
remember Lippus Grundt, your poor Valentine?"
"Master Philip Grundt!" exclaimed Christina, amazed at the breadth of
visage and person; "and how fares it with my good Regina?"
"Excellent well, good lady. She manages her trade and house as well
as the good man Bartolaus Fleischer himself. Blithe will she be to
show you her goodly ten, as I shall my eight," he continued, walking
by her side; "and Barbara--you remember Barbara Schmidt, lady--"
"My dear Barbara?--That do I indeed! Is she your wife?"
"Ay, truly, lady," he answered, in an odd sort of apologetic tone;
"you see, you returned not, and the housefathers, they would have it
so--and Barbara is a good housewife.
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