human
So it was delightful, my darling?
gpt
Oh, so delightful!
human
True, though the Emperor is so noble, and both he and the Burgravine were so gracious to me, at first-- and not only for a brief quarter of an hour, but a very long time I could feel no real pleasure. What am I saying? Pleasure! I was indescribably desolate and alone among all those vain, bedizened strangers. I was like a shipwrecked sailor washed ashore by the waves and surrounded by people whose language is unfamiliar.
gpt
But half Nuremberg was at the ball, her sister interrupted.
human
Now you see the trouble, darling. Whoever, like you, remains in seclusion and mounts a tall tree to be entirely alone, will be deserted; for who would be kind-hearted enough to learn to climb for your sake? But it seems that afterwards one and another----
gpt
Oh! Eva interrupted,
human
He? Sir Heinz Schorlin? asked Els in surprise, a look of anxious suspense clouding her pretty, frank face.
gpt
The reckless Swiss, whom Countess Cordula said yesterday was the pike in the dull carp pond of the court, and the only person for whom it was worth while to bear the penance imposed in the confessional?
human
Cordula von Montfort! cried Eva scornfully.
gpt
If she speaks to me I shall not answer her, I can tell you. My cheeks crimson when I think of the liberty----
human
Never mind her, said her sister soothingly.
gpt
She is a motherless child, and therefore unlike us. As for Heinz Schorlin, he is certainly a gallant knight; but, my innocent lambkin, he is a wolf nevertheless.
human
A wolf? asked Eva, opening her large eyes as wide as if they beheld some terrible object. But she soon laughed softly, and added quietly:
gpt
But a very harmless wolf, who humbly changes his nature when the right hand strokes him. How you stare at me! I am not thinking of your beloved Wolff, whom you have tamed tolerably well, but the wolf of Gubbio, which did so much mischief, and to which St. Francis went forth, accosted him as Brother Wolf, and reminded him that they both owed their lives to the goodness of the same divine Father. The animal seemed to understand this, for it nodded to him. The saint now made a bargain with the wolf, which gave him its paw in pledge of the oath; and it kept the promise, for it followed St. Francis into the city, and never again harmed anyone. The citizens of Gubbio fed the good beast, and when it died sincerely mourned it. If you wish to know from whom I heard this edifying story--which is true, and can be confirmed by some one now in Nuremberg who witnessed it--let me tell you that it was the wicked wolf himself; not the Gubbio one, but he from Switzerland. An old Minorite monk, to whom he compassionately gave his horse, is the witness I mentioned. At the tavern the priest told him what he had beheld with his own eyes. Do you still inveigh against the dangerous beast, which acts like the good Samaritan, and finds nothing more delightful than hearing or speaking of our dear saint?
human
And this in the Town Hall during the dance?
gpt
That was just what made the ball so delightful. The dancing! Oh, yes, it is easy enough to walk and turn in time to the music when one has such a knight for a partner; but that was by no means the pleasantest part of it. During the interval--it seemed but an instant, yet it really lasted a considerable time--we first entered into conversation.
human
In one of the side rooms?
gpt
What are you thinking of? replied Eva in a tone of offence.
human
I believe I know what is seemly as well as anybody else. True, your Countess Cordula did not set the most praiseworthy example. She allowed the whole throng of knights to surround her in the ante-room, and your future brother-in-law, Siebenburg, outdid them all. We--Heinz Schorlin and I-- sat near the Emperor's table in the great hall, where everybody could see us. There the conversation naturally passed from the old Minorite to the holy founder of his order, and remained there. And if ever valiant knight possessed a devout mind, it is Heinz Schorlin. Whoever goes into battle without relying upon God and his saints,' he said, 'will find his courage lack wings, and his armour the surest defensive 'weapon.'
gpt
In the ballroom!
human
Where else? asked Eva angrily.
gpt
I never met him except there. What do you other girls talk about at such entertainments, if it surprises you? Besides, St. Francis was by no means our only subject; we spoke of the future crusade, too. And oh!--you may believe me--we would have been glad to talk of such things for hours. He knew many things about our saint; but the precise one which makes him especially great and lovable, and withal so powerful that he attracted all whom he deemed worthy to follow him, he had not understood, and I was permitted to be the first person to bring it clearly before his mind. Ah! and his wit is as keen as his sword, and his heart is as open to all that is noble and sacred as it is loyal to his lord and Emperor. If we meet again I shall win him for the white cross on the black mantle and the battle against the enemies of the faith.
human
But, Eva, interrupted her sister, still under the spell of astonishment,
gpt
Eva answered impressively.
human
One need not go to the house of God to talk about the things which ought to be the highest and dearest to every one; and Heinz Schorlin--I know it from his own lips--is of the same opinion, for he told me voluntarily that he would never forget the few hours which we had enjoyed together.
gpt
Indeed! said her sister thoughtfully.
human
But whether he does not owe this pleasure more to the dancing than to the edifying conversation----
gpt
Certainly not! replied Eva, very positively.
human
I can prove it, too; for later, after he had heard many things about St. Clare, the female counterpart of Francis, he vowed to make her his patron saint. Or do you suppose that a knight changes his saints, as he does his doublet and coat of mail, without having any great and powerful motive? Do you think it possible that the idle pleasure of the dance led him to so important a decision?
gpt
Certainly not. Nothing led him to it except the irresistible zeal of my devout sister, answered Els, smiling, as she continued to comb her fair hair.
human
She spoke with tongues in the ballroom, as the apostles did at Pentecost, and thus our 'little saint' performed her first miracle: the conversion of a godless knight during the dancing.
gpt
Call it so, if you choose, replied Eva, her red lips pouting scornfully, as if she felt raised above such pitiful derision.
human
How you hurt, Els! You are pulling all the hair out of my head!