"They may make sport of me, as much as they please, as long as we're happy together," said Hansei.
"Hansei, I'll never forget you for that. There's something else coming, too."
"There needn't be anything more. All I ask for is that we may keep what we have."
They sat there for a long while, and at last Walpurga said:
"Oh! how beautiful the world is. If we could only always remain together thus. There's nothing more beautiful than to sit here and look at the lake, through the green leaves and the gray boughs. There are two skies, one above and one below. Hansei, we have two heavens, too, and I almost think that the one on earth is the lovelier of the two."
"Yes, but joy has made me hungry and thirsty; I must have something to eat."
They descended to a quiet, desolate-looking village that lay near by. Here and there people were seated before their doors, chatting and yawning, to while away the sultry hour of noon. But Walpurga said:
"Oh, Hansei, how beautiful everything is! Just look at that wheelbarrow, and that pile of wood, and that house--I don't know what's the matter with me, but I feel quite dizzy, and as if everything were smiling at me."
"You must have something to eat and drink; you're quite beside yourself."
They found the inn-parlor untenanted except by myriads of flies.