"Oh, Anna Maria, oh, Fräulein Rosamond, listen, just listen!' she cried, in ecstasy.
"Stürmer followed her, smiling, and offered Anna Maria his arm. Hesitatingly, with a long look at Susanna, she took it. The latter looked after them in wonder, and walked silently beside me.
"Before the house a crowd of people had assembled, in eager expectation; then came the children, dancing and skipping, in at the gate; behind them came the musicians, and over the long procession which followed hovered the wreath of golden corn, adorned with colored ribbons, waving gayly in the warm autumn wind.
"Anna Maria stood beside Stürmer, on the front steps, her hand still resting lightly on his arm; she wore her blue dress and white lace kerchief. A sad smile lay on her lips as the speaker, followed by two girls bearing the wreath, now advanced to the steps, and, making a sign for the music to stop, began the old speech:
"'God be praised, who gives sun and rain;
God be praised, who gives his blessing again;
God be praised, who, in this year,
Has blessed our fields so richly here.
May he give further fortune good,
To man and beast, to field and wood,
And may his gracious blessing fall
On man and beast, on people all.
And on the house we hang to-day
The wreath, that blessings here may stay.
A pious wife, and children fair,
May they ere long be dwelling there!
That is our wish upon this day;
God will provide for come what may.
Take not this speech of ours amiss.
Full of good-will, indeed, it is!'
"A peal of music accompanied the three hearty cheers of the people; the two pretty girls laid the wreath at Anna Maria's feet as she kindly shook hands with the speaker. 'I thank you heartily, people,' she said in her deep, mature voice. 'I thank you in the name of my brother far away, who is much grieved not to be able to stand here to-day. I thank you for the honest diligence and labor of this year, and wish that the good old harmony may continue between gentry and people as has ever been the manner at Bütze. And now, in my brother's name, enjoy the present day, and be happy as befits this feast.'
"'Long may she live, our gracious Fräulein!' cried the people; the lads tossed their caps in the air, and with music the procession went into the great barn, where long tables were set for the harvest banquet.
"Anna Maria had dropped Stürmer's arm as she stepped forward to speak. He appeared strangely moved, and a slight, indefinable smile lay on his lips. I remembered his once saying that nothing was more dreadful to him in a woman than to see her, even for a moment, assume the position of a man, and in that light he evidently regarded the speech.
"During the shouting I looked around for Susanna; she had disappeared. There was not much time to reflect where she might be. Anna Maria now made the round of the tables; she had to have her health drunk, and drink in return. Stürmer accompanied her; it was a pretty sight to see them walking together across the court.
"On that day not the slightest thing escaped me, but now I cannot tell exactly what this and that one did; it only came to me upon reflection, much later; and then one thing after another came into my mind. At the time I did not wonder at the rose-colored dress which Susanna wore, and which was so charmingly suited to her transparent complexion; it did not occur to me at all that she was still in mourning for her father, nor did I think about her having been too indisposed to go to church in the morning, and then, soon after, coming running from the garden, with rosy cheeks. I thought nothing of it, that at the table—to-day there was a long row of us, the clergyman and his sister, two bailiffs, three farm-pupils, a forester, and Isabella (by way of exception)—she laughed through the entire scale every minute, and carried on all manner of nonsense.