"
There was something in the old man's frank, dignified tone of grave
reproof that at once impressed Ebbo with a sense of the true
superiority of that wise and venerable old age to his own petulant
baronial self-assertion. He had both head and heart to feel the
burgher's victory, and with a deep blush, though not without dignity,
he answered, "Truly, sir, my mother has ever taught us to look up to
you as her kindest and best--"
He was going to say "friend," but a look into the grand benignity of
the countenance completed the conquest, and he turned it into
"father." Friedel at the same instant bent his knee, exclaiming, "It
is true what Ebbo says! We have both longed for this day. Bless us,
honoured uncle, as you have blessed my mother."
For in truth there was in the soul of the boy, who had never had any
but women to look up to, a strange yearning towards reverence, which
was called into action with inexpressible force by the very aspect
and tone of such a sage elder and counsellor as Master Gottfried
Sorel, and he took advantage of the first opening permitted by his
brother.
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