"That Geiger-Hans...!" said the landlord, as by-and-by he watched his guests depart. "He bewitches all, great and small. But this is a strong one.... There they go. Maybe they'll never come back!" He had to the utmost the village terror of the menace of the Burg, inherited through centuries of high and low justice dispensed by Burgraves of Wellenshausen. "Dungeons, up there, and trapdoors, and none ever the wiser. Herr Jemine!"
Wellenshausen
CHAPTER VI
THE BURG
"I will be master of what is my own;
She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house;
And here she stands, touch her whoever dare!"
(Taming of the Shrew).
"Sidonia," said the lady up in the turret-room, "I will not endure it!"
As this remark was made at least five times a day, the hearer was less impressed than the desperate air of the speaker demanded.
"I will throw myself from the window," continued the Burgravine, carefully propping her plump elbows on the stone sill to gaze down with safety.
"If you'd only come out sometimes, and walk with me!" said little Sidonia, smiling.