thus," she said, in a low, but not unsteady voice. "I can bear it
better since I have heard of the poor young lady, sick and with none
to care for her. I will go with my father; it is my duty. I will do
my best; but oh! uncle, so work with him that he may bring me back
again."

"This from thee, Stina!" exclaimed her aunt; "from thee who art sick
for fear of a lanzknecht!"

"The saints will be with me, and you will pray for me," said
Christina, still trembling.

"I tell thee, child, thou knowst not what these vile dens are.
Heaven forfend thou shouldst!" exclaimed her aunt. "Go only to
Father Balthazar, housefather, and see if he doth not call it a
sending of a lamb among wolves."

"Mind'st thou the carving I did for Father Balthazar's own oratory?"
replied Master Gottfried.

"I talk not of carving! I talk of our child!" said the dame,
petulantly.

"Ut agnus inter lupos," softly said Gottfried, looking tenderly,
though sadly, at his niece, who not only understood the quotation,
but well remembered the carving of the cross-marked lamb going forth
from its fold among the howling wolves.

"Alas! I am not an apostle," said she.