But her
husband had been too much in awe of her to enter with that hasty
agitated step and exclamation, "Mother, mother, what insolence is
this!"
"Hush, Ebbo! I prayed mine uncle to let me speak to thee."
"It is true, then," said Ebbo, dashing his cap on the ground; "I had
soundly beaten that grinning 'prentice for telling Heinz."
"Truly the house rings with the rumour, mother," said Friedel, "but
we had not believed it."
"I believed Wildschloss assured enough for aught," said Ebbo, "but I
thought he knew where to begin. Does he not know who is head of the
house of Adlerstein, since he must tamper with a mechanical
craftsman, cap in hand to any sprig of nobility! I would have soon
silenced his overtures!"
"Is it in sooth as we heard?" asked Friedel, blushing to the ears,
for the boy was shy as a maiden. "Mother, we know what you would
say," he added, throwing himself on his knees beside her, his arm
round her waist, his cheek on her lap, and his eyes raised to hers.
She bent down to kiss him. "Thou knewst it, Friedel, and now must
thou aid me to remain thy father's true widow, and to keep Ebbo from
being violent.
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