And Magtelt went up and stretched herself on her bed, and prayed to
the good God to send her back her sweet comrade.
On the second day she went and sat before the glazed window, and
without intermission looked out all day at the countryside and the
falling snow, and watched to see if Anne-Mie were coming.
But Anne-Mie could not come.
And on the third day the lids of her eyes bled for weeping. And on
that day the snow ceased falling, the sky became clear, the sun shone
therein, and the earth was hard frozen.
And every day in the same place went and sat the sorrowing Magtelt,
watching the countryside, thinking of Anne-Mie and saying nothing.
Sir Roel, seeing her so low-hearted, sent to Bruges for some blue
cloth-of-scarlet, for her to make herself a dress, and fine Cyprian
gold for the border, and fine gold buttons of rich workmanship.
Magtelt worked away at making this dress, but took no pleasure at
all at the thought of all this fine apparel.
And so passed away the week, and each day Magtelt worked at her dress,
saying nothing and singing never, but weeping oftentimes.
On the fifth day, when the dress was finished, well trimmed with the
Cyprian gold and embellished with the rich buttons, the lady Gonde
bade Magtelt don it, and then showed her her magnificence in a great
mirror-glass; but Magtelt had no heart to be glad at seeing herself
so beautiful, for she was thinking of Anne-Mie.
And the lady Gonde, seeing how sad she was and silent, wept also,
saying: "Since our Magtelt stopped singing I have felt more bitterly
the chill of winter and old age."
And Sir Roel made no murmur, but became sullen and pensive, and drank
clauwaert all day.
And at times, turning angry, he bade Magtelt sing and be cheerful.
And the maid sang merry lieds to the old man, who then turned joyous
again, and Gonde as well.
And they spent all their time before the fire, nodding their heads. And
they said: "The nightingale is come back again to the house, and her
music makes the fires of spring sunshine stir in our bones."
And Magtelt, having done singing, would go off to hide herself in a
corner and weep for Anne-Mie.