Hearty kisses were heard, and Gundel at last said:
"But you'll come up to the meadow to see us, once in a while, won't you?"
"Of course I will!" And then there was more soft and unintelligible whispering.
"Why, just look!" said Franz, suddenly; "there's cousin Irmgard, and she's heard every word of what we've said."
"That's no harm; she knows all about it, and so I'll have something to talk with her about, all summer. Come, let's go to her. You'll see how kind she is."
They went to Irma.
She took them both by the hand and said:
"Let your love be as pure, as fresh, as inexhaustible as this spring." She dipped her hand into the spring, which glittered in the moonlight, and sprinkled the two lovers with water.
"That's as good as if it came out of a holy water pot," cried Franz. "Now everything will be all right. I've no fear. You, spring, and you, elder-tree, are witnesses that we both belong together, and will never leave each other. Good-night."
Franz went back into the stable and closed the door. Gundel accompanied Irma to her room and slept on the bench, for her father, the little pitchman, had already gone before them to the shepherd's hut and had taken her bed and various household articles with him.