She did not vouchsafe them a word, yet neither did she allow any of them to render her even the most trivial service.

But she could not escape Seifried, the equerry of her mistress's eldest son.

At first, according to her custom, she had roused the handsome fellow's hopes by fiery glances which she could not restrain.

Now he felt that she cared for him, and in his honest fashion offered to make her his beloved wife; but she refused his suit, at first kindly, then angrily.

As he still persisted she begged the housekeeper, though she saw that matchmaking was her delight, to keep him away.
Even in March Frau Sophia thanked Lienhard for the new inmate of her household, who far exceeded her expectations.