So,
young Sir, if you can give the old man a corner of the hearth while
he lives, he will never interfere with you. And, maybe, if the
castle were in jeopardy in your absence, with that new-fangled road
up to it, he could tell the fellows how to hold it out."
"Sir--dear father," cried the ardent Ebbo, "this is not a fit state
of things. I will spare you all trouble and care; only make me not
undutiful; take your own place. Mother, convince him!"
"No, my son," said Sir Eberhard; "your mother sees what is best for
me. I only want to be left to her to rest a little while, and repent
of my sinful life. As Heinz says, the rusty old iron must lie by
while the new steel does the work. It is quiet that I need. It is
joy enough for me to see what she has made you, and all around. Ah!
Stine, my white dove, I knew thine was a wise head; but when I left
thee, gentle little frightened, fluttering thing, how little could I
have thought that all alone, unaided, thou wouldst have kept that
little head above water, and made thy son work out all these changes-
-thy doing--and so I know they are good and seemly.
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