But the young girl speedily found a way to fulfil her ardent wish to aid.
On her swift palfrey, which her uncle had sent to Schweinau long before
that she might refresh herself, after her arduous duties, by a ride, she
would go to the city, stop at her own home, and have her new expensive
mourning clothes taken to the castle. The only doubt was whether she
could change her garments in the quarters of the Swiss, and whether Frau
Gertrude would help her do so.

The latter gladly assented. There was no lack of room in her apartments,
nor did Frau Gertrude, who had served the Burgravine as waiting maid many
years before her marriage, lack either skill or good will.

So she went directly home on her mule; but Eva, after promising her
patients to return soon, hastened to her uncle's residence.

There she mounted the palfrey and reached the city gate a long time
before the Swiss. The clothes she needed were soon found in the Ortlieb
mansion, and she was then carried in a sedan-chair to the castle with her
wardrobe, whilst the groom led her palfrey after her. Countess Cordula
was not at home; she, too, had ridden to the forest with the Emperor.

The Burgravine Elizabeth willingly consented to receive the charming
child whose fate had awakened her warm interest. She had just been
hearing the best and most beautiful things about Eva, for the leech Otto
had been called to visit her in her attack of illness, and the old man
was overflowing with praises of both sisters. He indignantly mentioned
the vile calumnies with which Heinz Schorlin's name was associated, and
which base slander had fixed upon the innocent girls whose pure morality
he would guarantee.