Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 1).djvu/238

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220
THE STEALING

her a malicious trick, and carried it away among the buſhes. The officious Friedbert attended, and helped her very ſincerely to ſearch, well aſſured nothing would be found. The ill ſucceſs of the experiment again darkened the damſel’s countenance; but her veins were filled with light ethereal blood, and ſorrow was as little capable of ſtriking deep root into her heart, as deadly nightſhade into a quick-ſand. She accommodated herſelf, by degrees, to her fortune: her heavy eye gliſtened like a cloud illuminated by the gleam of evening; ſhe grew familiar with the aſſociate of her ſolitude, and her glances would ſometimes fix with pleaſure on his blooming cheeks. The watchful anchoret obſerved the omen with inward ſatisfaction: and ſtrove ſo much the more earneſtly to improve theſe favourable prepoſſeſſions, and to ſecure his advantage by a thouſand little ſervices. So much were his ſentiments refined, andſuch