Katharine folded the letter carefully, and took up another, in a different handwriting.
"It pleases me much," she said softly to herself, "that his friends remember me so kindly." Then she read the letter, which Melanchthon had written her, shortly after his arrival in Augsburg:
"God's grace and blessing! Honorable, virtuous Mistress Luther: This is to inform you that we have safely reached Augsburg, for which God be praised!—and have left the Doctor at Coburg, as he has doubtless written you. But I hope soon to be with him. I pray you, write me how it goes with you, and how the captain has behaved with regard to the grain. If I can serve you in anything, I will do it with all diligence. The chancellors, Dr. Gregory Brück and Dr. Christian Baier, who will read before the Diet the Protestant confession of faith, send you greetings and good wishes. God keep you.
"PHILIPP MELANCHTHON.
"Augsburg, Wednesday after St. Walpurgis."
Underneath was written: "Dear friend, I too wish you, and Hans, little Lena and Aunt Lena much pleasure. Kiss my dearest boy in my name.
"JUSTUS JONAS."
On the outer edge was scribbled: "I too, John Agricola, of Eisleben, wish you well, dear Mistress Luther."
Two tears fell upon the letter, which, like the others, showed signs of much handling.
"How God turns evil into good," thought Kate. "The parting from my husband was a sore trial, yet as its sweet fruits I have these precious letters, whence I perceive that I am well loved, and faithfully remembered."
Another followed, also in a strange handwriting. Veit Dietrich, a member of her family, who, with Luther's nephew, Cyriac Kaufman, had accompanied the Doctor, answered a letter which Katharine, soon after Lena's birthday, had sent with a portrait of the child, to Coburg.