'What is all this?' exclaimed the officer; 'old acquaintances--another masquerade!'
'We are now truly all partaking of rural life,' said Farniente; 'so come, you two peasants, and place yourselves with the fair shepherdess and us.'
We joined the circle, and after our names having been told, my cousin, leading the conversation to Lake Esrom, and the events which took place on its banks, asked Catherina how her poor friend had taken that sad affair, and if she had ever recovered her spirits?'
'Oh yes, she has,' replied Catherina; and pointing to the young lady who was engaged to the merchant, 'there she is!'
My cousin started, and said, in some embarrassment, 'It was a sad event, but--'
'Not so very sad,' cried the merchant, interrupting him, 'for the drowned man returned to life. He was no other than myself.'
'God be thanked!' exclaimed my cousin, sincerely rejoiced at the pleasant intelligence. 'That is more than we then dared to hope. But what became of the poor foolish madcap who first upset the boat and then wished to drown himself?'
'Here he is,' said Farniente, pointing to himself; 'and as I once thought I might be promoted to the dignity of court jester, I took a wife, and there,' bowing to Sybilla, 'sits the fair one who has undertaken to steer my boat over the dangerous ocean of life.'
The morning mists by degrees cleared away from the wooded valleys and the hill-encircled waters; the larks had ended their early chorus, and the later songsters of the grove had commenced their sweet harmonies; all seemed joy around, and I looked with pleasure at the gay group before me. Never had the cheering light of day shone upon a circle of more contented human beings, and among them none were happier than Ludwig and his recently-found shepherdess, whose countenance beamed in the radiant glow of dawning love.
Six months have passed since then, and they are now united for this world and for that which is to come.