Thank God, they are gone!" While the widow was filling a glass, Wilhelm's mother came into the kitchen and greeted Barbara and the young nobleman.

She carried under her shawl a small package clasped tightly to her bosom.

Her breadth was still considerable, but the flesh, with which she had moved about so briskly a few months ago, now seemed to have become an oppressive burden.
She took the little bundle in her right hand, saying "I have something for your Bessie.

My Wilhelm, good fellow--" Here she paused and restored her gift to its old place.

She had seen the Junker's plucked present, and continued in an altered tone: "So you already have a pigeon--so much the better! The city clerk's little girl is beginning to droop too.