short a time--his daughter knew that--the spirits of the wine could have
done him no harm. Besides, his voice sounded as deep and firm as usual
as he called to her from the threshold: "A guest, Wawerl, a distinguished
guest! A splendid fellow! You've already spoken of him, and I made his
acquaintance in the Bear. I learned many and many a piece of news from
him about how things are going in the world-news, I tell you, girl! My
heart is fairly dancing in my body. And, besides, a little puss like you
is always glad to hear of an admirer, and only a short time ago you
praised him loudly enough as a splendid dancer. A downright good fellow,
child, just as I was myself at his age. An uncle of his, a captain of
arquebusiers, Pyramus Kogel."

Hitherto Barbara, with increasing displeasure, had only suspected whom
her father meant; but when he now mentioned his new friend's name, the
indignant blood crimsoned her cheeks.

She had liked the handsome officer, for it was true that few men so well
understood the art of guiding a partner through the dance; she, fool that
she was, had made eyes at him in order not to let pretty Elspet Zohrer
have the precedence. But he had himself confessed how much farther he
had entered the snare than she intended when, on her way home from Fran
Lerch's after her meeting with Wolf, the young officer had met her
outside of the Grieb and sued for her hand.

Now the amorous swain had probably tried his luck with her father, and
how the latter, in spite of poor Wolf and Herr Schlumperger, had treated
him was evident from the fact that he, who usually closed his home
against old friends, opened it wide to this stranger.

This was not only unpleasant to Barbara, but anger crimsoned her cheeks.