My natural good nature would not allow me to take much pleasure in such a malicious deception, and the repetition of the same subject soon disgusted me.  I should certainly have passed a tedious evening, if an unexpected apparition had not revived me.  On our arrival we found the table already neatly and orderly set, and sufficient wine served on it:  we sat down and remained alone, without requiring further service.  As there was, however, a scarcity of wine at last, one of them called for the maid; but, instead of the maid, there came in a girl of uncommon, and, when one saw her with all around her, of incredible, beauty.  “What do you desire?” she asked, after having cordially wished us a good-evening:  “the maid is ill in bed.  Can I serve you?”—­“The wine is out,” said one:  “if you would fetch us a few bottles, it would be very kind.”—­ “Do it, Gretchen,” [Footnote:  The diminutive of Margaret.—­TRANS.] said another:  “it is but a cat’s leap from here.”—­“Why not?” she answered; and, taking a few empty bottles from the table, she hastened out.  Her form, as seen from behind, was almost more elegant.  The little cap sat so neatly upon her little head, which a slender throat united very gracefully to her neck and shoulders.  Every thing about her seemed choice; and one could survey her whole form the more at ease, as one’s attention was no more exclusively attracted and fettered by the quiet, honest eyes and lovely mouth.  I reproved my comrades for sending the girl out alone at night, but they only laughed at me; and I was soon consoled by her return, as the publican lived only just across the way.  “Sit down with us, in return,” said one.  She did so; but, alas! she did not come near me.  She drank a glass to our health, and speedily departed, advising us not to stay very long together, and not to be so noisy, as her mother was just going to bed.  It was not, however, her own mother, but the mother of our hosts.

The form of that girl followed me from that moment on every path; it was the first durable impression which a female being had made upon me:  and as I could find no pretext to see her at home, and would not seek one, I went to church for love of her, and had soon traced out where she sat.  Thus, during the long Protestant service, I gazed my fill at her.  When the congregation left the church, I did not venture to accost her, much less to accompany her, and was perfectly delighted if she seemed to have remarked me and to have returned my greeting with a nod.  Yet I was not long denied the happiness of approaching her.  They had persuaded the lover, whose poetical secretary I had been, that the letter written in his name had been actually despatched to the lady, and had strained to the utmost his expectations that an answer must come soon.  This, also, I was to write; and the waggish company entreated me earnestly, through Pylades, to exert all my wit and employ all my art, in order that this piece might be quite elegant and perfect.