The old man, however, and his wife, had long forgotten the features. One of Carl's sisters at length said:
"That must he the young lady, if I am not mistaken, whom you saved from the wolf?"
"Certainly," Carl replied; "and at this very spot where we are now sitting so happily together."
But as all began crying, "Proceed, proceed with your story," he continued it in the following fashion:
As soon as I saw the head I was in great fear, and ceased singing. The lady, however, came very kindly towards me, measured me from head to foot, and at length said
"I could scarce believe my ears when I heard that voice, but my eyes cannot deceive me. Surely you are the son of the clergyman of H , who saved me from the wolf two years ago?"
"I am that unhappy man," I said to her; and then proceeded to tell her what a frightful revenge Gündling had taken. Her eyes filled with tears, and she seemed to me like an angel sent from on High to comfort me.
"You saved me from a wolf," she exclaimed, "and I will now do as much for you;" and then hurried back into the room. I stood there with a beating heart, till a page approached me with the words:
"Sentinel, as soon as you are released from duty you must go through that door, and present yourself to her majesty the queen."
I need not say with what anxiety I waited for the hour.
At length I was relieved, and, trembling, I entered the queen's apartments. She asked my history very graciously, and when 1 had finished it, she added:
"I can do nothing for you, my son, but I will beg the general to see that you are on duty here to-morrow morning between eleven and twelve, the hour at which the king pays me a visit. Then sing, with your clear voice that pleased me so much, any verse you like of his majesty's favourite hymn—'Who puts his trust in God alone.' I will then see what more I can do for you."
With these words her majesty dismissed me, and without the door I met this lady, who whispered to me, "Courage, courage; I trust all will be well."
As I expected, I was placed on duty before the queen's apartments the next morning at eleven o'clock. As soon as I hears voices within I commenced singing a verse of the hymn that had been commanded. However, I expected in vain to be summoned again. The hour passed, and I fancied that no attention had been paid to me; and I despaired, for I did not dare sing another verse.
"And yet," the young lady here interrupted the narrator, "all proper attention had been paid to your hymn, and I may be permitted to give an account of it, as Carl has already become my dear husband."
Another cry of astonishment was here raised: "What! what! your husband?" all exclaimed. "I fancied you were a dean's wife," the old pastor remarked. "I never heard of such a thing," the patron murmured, for he knew the lady was of very old family, and both he and the pastor seemed scarce to know whether they were awake or dreaming.
