question about Solomon. I could remember nothing but 'Ah! his beard
was blue!' I have tried this week with all my might; and the harder I
try, the better I remember every word. It is dreadful."

[Footnote A: "Bluebeard was a rich man."]

[Footnote B:

"Strong was the build of his body,
Fiery were his glances,
But ah!--disaster!--
But ah! his beard was blue."]

It was dreadful; but he was somewhat comforted to learn that the
memories of his brothers and sisters were as perverse as his own.
Those ballads were not to be easily forgotten. They refused to give up
their hold on the minds they had nourished and amused so long.

One and all the children were really distressed, with the exception of
Friedrich, who had, as usual, given about half his attention to the
subject in hand; and who now sat absently humming to himself the
account of Bluebeard's position and character, as set forth in
Gotter's ballad.

The others came to the conclusion that there was but one hope
left--that St. Nicholas might have put some new ballads into the old
book--and one and all they made for the hiding-place, followed at a
feebler pace by the little Fräulein, who ran with her lips tightly
shut, her hands clenched, and her eyes wide open with a mixture of
fear and expectation. The bricks were removed, the book unwrapped, but