But so soon as she saw me she vanished within and was seen no more.
Yet, indeed and indeed, as all may see, there was no cause for all this fret.

For I cared no more about Christian's Elsa than about Christian himself--less, indeed, for Christian was a good soldier and master-at-arms, and taught me how to handle the match-lock, the pistolet, and the other new weapons that had begun to come in from France.

And often upon Saturdays and wet days he would let me spend long mornings in the armory with him, oiling and cleaning the ordnance.

Which it certainly was a great pleasure to do.
And what if the little dumpling Elsa, with her red cheeks and her babyish eyes, did run in and out.

Her father was ever with us, and even had I been willing there was no opportunity for more than a word or a touch of her fingers--well, save once, when her father went himself to seek the bottle of oil she had been sent to fetch, and was some time in finding it.