Once there, however,
she recovered. "I am sorry to have put you at such a disadvantage,"
glancing at my clothes, which were covered with brown earth.
"Let that be the least of your troubles!" I cried gayly. Then I hummed
in English:
So, ho! dear Gretchen, winsome lass,
I want no tricky wine,
But amber nectar bring to me,
Whose rich bouquet will cling to me,
Whose spirit voice will sing to me
From out the mug divine
So, here's your toll--a kiss--away,
You Hebe of the Rhine!
No goblet's gold means cheer to me,
Let no cut glass get near to me--
Go, Gretchen, haste the beer to me,
And put it in the stein!
I thought I saw a smile on her lips, but it was gone before I was
certain.
"Gott in Himmel!" gasped the astonished innkeeper, as I went into the
barroom. I still had the hoe over my shoulder.
"Never mind, mein host. I've been weeding your knoblauch patch as a
method of killing time."
"But--" He looked at Gretchen in dismay.
"It was I who led him there," said Gretchen, in answer to his inquiring
eyes.
A significant glance passed between them.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132