"When winter howls across the wold,
And all the gates are fast,
Then is thine heart, shut from the cold,
Safe from the blast,
And safe from whomsoe'er goes past.
"When Spring makes lovely all the land,
And casements open wide,
Beware lest some gay wandering band
Should slip inside,
And steal thine heart, and thee deride!
"When once 'tis gone, to win it back
Full vainly mayst thou try;
Nor golden bribes nor tears, alack!
Lost hearts can buy,
Since who loves once, loves till he die."
Baron Albrecht listened to her singing with a smile on his face.
"Now, by my beard," he said, "a song like that is worth a reward."
And he put his great shapely hand beneath her white chin, and kissed her full upon her red lips. At that very moment the Countess Erna came into the hall. Her cheek flushed as the damsel uttered an exclamation and fled hastily, and she looked at the baron in the evident expectation of seeing him also covered with confusion. But Albrecht merely smiled, and smoothed his chestnut beard.
"The damsel sings passing sweetly," he said, unmoved by her glance.
"Is it for that that thou hast kissed her?" demanded Erna, scornfully.
"Truly," replied he.
Erna regarded him with a look in which amazement struggled with disapprobation. She could not comprehend his strange indifference at being discovered.