niece: but fears for the well-being of the master-carver, and his
Wirthschaft, and still more the notion of gossip Gertrude Grundt
hearing that she had ridden off with a wild lanzknecht, made her at
once reject the plan, without even mentioning it to her husband or
his niece.

By the time Hugh Sorel rolled out from between his feather beds, and
was about to don his greasy buff, a handsome new suit, finished point
device, and a pair of huge boots to correspond, had been laid by his
bedside.

"Ho, ho! Master Goetz," said he, as he stumbled into the Stube, "I
see thy game. Thou wouldst make it worth my while to visit the
father-house at Ulm?"

"It shall be worth thy while, indeed, if thou bringest me back my
white dove," was Gottfried's answer.

"And how if I bring her back with a strapping reiter son-in-law?"
laughed Hugh. "What welcome should the fellow receive?"

"That would depend on what he might be," replied Gottfried; and Hugh,
his love of tormenting a little allayed by satisfaction in his buff
suit, and by an eye to a heavy purse that lay by his brother's hand
on the table, added, "Little fear of that. Our fellows would look
for lustier brides than yon little pale face. 'Tis whiter than ever
this morning,--but no tears. That is my brave girl."

"Yes, father, I am ready to do your bidding," replied Christina,
meekly.