own up. For all the flatteries lavished on them, such young maidens were kept in their own place in society. They were made to feel it by a hundred trifles t

in the obliging smile of the chambermaid showed her sense of whether she was waiting on a married or an unmarried woman. The free-and-easy tone which the half

der gentlemen were simply intolerable with their fulsome compliments and their mock gallantry, but the married women were worst of all, especially the brides. The encouraging, though a bit preoccupied glance, the slight condescending nod with head to one side, and the smile-half pitying, half jeering-with which they would listen to her-it was insu

m opened a wide vista of pleasant possibilities. When all the honors and advantages had been described to her-how she would be admitted into the inner court circle, the splendor in which she would live, the beaten track to fame and high position that lay before Ulrik Frederik as the natural son and e

friend and chief gentlewoman, Mistress Rigitze, but the King was not moved only by the persuasions of his consort. He knew - 100 - that Marie Grubbe would bring her husband a considerable fortune, and although Ulrik Frederik held Vordingborg in fief, his love of pomp and luxury made constant demands upon the King, who was always hard pressed for money. Upon her marriage Marie would come into possession of her inheritance from he

d to picture to himself her sufferings with something of the voluptuous pity that thrills a young monk when he fancies the beautiful white body of the female martyr bleeding on the sharp spikes of the torture-wheel. Sometimes he would be troubled with dark forebodings that

nge, wonderful soul were given into his power as the soul of a dead man - 101 - into the hands

d been like a lake whipped and tumbled by a storm, while her love for Ulrik Frederik was the same water in the evening, becalmed, cold, and glassy, stirred but by the breaking of frothy bubbles among the dark reeds of the shore. Yet th

words so sweet and warm that no true love owns them sweeter, and there were tender tears in her eyes that could be only the dew of love's timid unrest. And yet-might it not be that her longing was conjuring up a mere mood, rooted in the memories of her past feeling, sheltered by the brooding darkness, fed by hot blood and soft music,-a mood that deceived herself and made him happy? Or was it nothing but maidenly shyness that made her chary of endearments by the light

ng the sandy road that skirted the Sound beyond East Gate. The air was fresh after a morning showe

hone under dark leaves, past fish-nets hung to dry with the raindrops still glistening in their meshes, past the King's fisheries with red-tiled roof, an

e motley border where the slope, brown with autumn leaves, met the water. High in the shelter of the foliage, in a ray of light that pierced the cool shadow, mosquitoes whirled in a noiseless swarm. A red butterfly gleamed there for a second, then flew out into the - 103 - sunlight over the lake. Steel

topped a little farther out than Ulrik Frederik, and sat with reins hanging in order to let her mare lower its head freely. She was tear

lowing the course of a light wind that went whirling over th

er turn back," sugge

r mare to the shore. They walked their horses roun

cheeks and drew in its freshness in long, deep breaths. "I would I knew-" She g

t thou know,

ckest of it. I'd be - 104 - wild with glee and sing at the top of my voice and walk and pick flowers and throw them away again and call to the birds, when they flew up-and then, on the sudden, a strange

erik could answer

me there sweet roses two And deck my silken shoe. Oh, the dance, Oh,

er shoulders. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks burned, she did not heed Ulrik Frederik calling after her. The whip whizzed through the air again, and off she

a stretch of forest glade. On either side the trees stood like a dark encircling wall. Ragged gray clouds were scudding over the black, lowering - 105 - heavens. Before her rolled the murky

s, and made a noise like foaming waves in the distant tree-tops. Large flat hailstones rattled down over them in white sheets, settled like bead s

k the horses, and the tall, bareheaded inn-keeper showed them into his parlor, where, he said, there was another guest before them. It proved to

ficant mannikin is the renowned comedian and merry-andrew of ale-houses, Daniel Knopf, well learned in all the liberal arts such as dicing,

n, but when Ulrik Frederik roused him - 106 - with a sounding blow on his broad back, his face flushed with resentment and embar

ve his boasting? Fie, fie, out upon you! Is that just? Have I not a score of times praised your wit before this noble lady, till she has time and again expressed the greatest longing to

d what pastime, what fine and particular sport, could keep young gentlemen in filthy ale-houses for ha

for roaring and bawling than to amuse a dainty and highborn young maiden. Nevertheless, he would put on his best speed to do her

sticking out his elbows. "Now I'm a whole assembly of your

nd - 107 - laid them on the table, pulled his hair do

oubt my word, you muckworm? I flung ten, hell consume me, ten with a jingle! Can't you see, you dog? I'm asking if you can't see?-you bli

up and pulle

d, you! D'you know whom you're challenging? So take me king o' hell, I'll strike your-Nay, nay,"

self up, fat and heavy jowled, then whistled firmly and thoughtfully but in an altogether too slow tempo

it with an ingratiating smile. "Little sugar-top!" he called, "little honey-dew, come to me,

in his chair, winked with one eye, and croo

od-begone! I curse you! Begone! I say. You're a hundred heavens high above them, the thing of beauty you are! Though they've scutcheons and emblems-would that make 'em any better? You've got an emblem, too-the red mark on your white shoulder that Master Anders bur

over the table. "My Mistress Ide, you blockhead, she's got a shape-as a man ma

t Marie ran to him with hands outstretched as though to help him up. The little man, half rising on his knees, caught her hand and gazed at her with an expression so full of gratitude and de