Was now very lively. Groups of young people dressed in holiday
attire were on their way to the inn, over the doorway of which
there was a large triumphal arch. Arnold exchanged his travel
ing clothes for a suit which he carried in his knapsack. Gertrude
looked far more beautiful than before in the simple but pretty
costume which she now wore.
Arnold thought that she had entirely forgotten her Heinrich.
While on the way to the inn, Arnold regret on ac
count of having to leave the next day. He could not deny that
he was growing more and more deeply in love with the mayor’s
daughter.
“ Do not let that worry you; you may be with us longer than
you will care to be,” laughed the maiden.
‘‘And would you like to have me stay?” he asked affection-
ately.
“Certainly,” she replied; “you are nice and friendly, and I
think that my father likes you, and besides, Heinrich did not
come. ’ ’
‘ ‘ And what if he were to come tomorrow ? ’ ’
‘ ‘ Tomorrow ?’ ’ she asked looking earnestly at him, ‘ ‘ there
be a long, long night before then. Tomorrow! You will com
prehend tomorrow what the word means. But do not let us think
of that now for here is the place. Won’t the boys be surprised to
see a strange young man ? ”
Arnold tried to answer her but the music drowned his words.
Wonderful melodies struck his ear, but none of them were familiar
to him, and the countless, brilliant lights almost blinded him.
Gertrude led him into the dancing hall where a number of young
folks stood laughing and talking and left him there to become
acquainted with some of them before the dance began. He did
not at first feel very comfortable in the midst of so many strange
persons. Their peculiar appearance and dialect were even some
what repulsive to him, the latter being as harsh as Gertrude’s was
sweet. The young men were friendly towards him though and
one of them came up to him and grasping him by the hand, said:
‘‘l am glad that you intend to remain with us. We lead a
happy life and the intermissions do not seem so very long. ’ ’
‘ ‘ What intermissions ?’ ’ asked Arnold while the young man
tried to induce him to remain. “ Oh, you mean until I return