"
Gretchen laughed. It was a low laugh, a laugh which appeared to me as
having been aroused not at what I had said, but at something which had
recurred to her. I wanted to hear it again.
So I said: "I suppose you have a stein here from which the King has
drunk; all taverns and inns have them."
Gretchen only smiled, but the smile was worth something.
"No; the King has never been within five miles of this inn."
"So much the worse for the King."
"And why that?"
"The King has missed seeing Gretchen."
It was then Gretchen laughed.
"I have never heard compliments like Herr's before."
"Why, I have any amount of them. I'll drink half a litre to your
health."
She filled one of the old blue earthen steins.
"I haven't seen your roses in the gardens, but I'll drink to those in
your cheeks," said I, and I drew back the pewter lid.
"How long does Herr intend to stay?" asked Gretchen.
"To the day is the evil thereof."
"Ah, one must be happy with nothing to do."
"Then you have the ambition common to all; to sit around and let others
wait upon you?"
"No, that is not my ambition.
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