"I did, forsooth!" said Leopold. "There is such confusion here among us, not one of them can think a reasonable thought."
The bride entered, and the young pair joyfully saluted one another. "The request I meant," continued the bridegroom, "is this: That you would not take it ill, if I should bring another guest into your house, which, in truth, is full enough already."
"You are aware yourself," replied the mother, "that extensive as it is, I could scarcely find another chamber."
"Notwithstanding, I have partly managed it already," cried Leopold; "I have had the large apartment furbished up."
"Why, that is quite a miserable place," replied the mother; "for many years it has been nothing but a lumber-room."
"But it is splendidly repaired," said Leopold; "and our friend, for whom it is intended, does not mind such matters, he desires nothing but our love. Besides, he has no wife, and likes to be alone; it is the very place for him. We have had enough of trouble in persuading him to come, and show himself again among his fellow-creatures."
"Not your dismal conjuror and gold-maker, certainly?" cried Agatha.
"No other," said the bridegroom, "if you will still call him so."
"Then do not let him, mother," said the sister. "What should a man like that do here? I have seen him on the street with Leopold, and I was positively frightened at his face. The old sinner, too, almost never goes to church; he loves neither God nor man; and it cannot come to good to bring such infidels under the roof, on a solemnity like this. Who knows what may be the consequence!"
"To hear her talk!" said Leopold, in anger. "Thou condemnest without knowing him; and because the cut of his nose does not please thee, and he is no longer young and handsome, thou concludest him a wizard, and a servant of the Devil."