"As tight as I can. In the meantime, law and a constitution will surely develop between us and it will be a good one whatever it is."
"And I will guarantee the constitution and claim the first chance to be godfather," suddenly rang out a strong bass voice.
Hermine craned her neck and seized Karl's hand; but he went nearer and saw one of the sentries of the Aargau sharpshooters standing in the shadow of a pillar. The metal on his equipment gleamed in the dark. Now the two young men recognized each other and the sentry was a tall, fine-looking fellow, the son of a peasant. Karl and Hermine sat down on the steps at his feet and chatted with him for a good half hour before they returned to their party.
[THE RIDER ON THE WHITE HORSE]
BY
THEODOR STORM
TRANSLATED BY
MARGARETE MÜNSTERBERG
[BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE]
Hans Theodor Woldsen Storm, usually known as Theodor Storm, was born in the small coast town of Husum in Schleswig-Holstein on September 14, 1817. His father was an attorney whose family had for generations been tenants of the old mill in Westermühler, and his mother's family were of the local aristocracy. Influences from his ancestry on both sides and from the country in which he was brought up played an important part in the formation of his sentiments and character.