thewidow'shusbandhadpossessedallthyland,withtheexceptionofthechurchproperty.hersonwasnotathome.inhisboyhoodhehadalreadystartedonajourney,forhisdesirewastoseeforeignlandsandstrangepeople.foryearstherehadbeennonewsofhim.perhapshehadbeenlonglaidinthegrave,andwouldnevercomebacktohishome,torulewherehismotherthenruled.

"whathasawomantodowithrule?"saidthebishop.

hesummonedthewidowbeforealawcourt;butwhatdidhegainthereby?thewidowhadneverbeendisobedienttothelaw,andwasstronginherjustrights.

bishopolafofborglum,whatdostthoupurpose?whatwritestthouonyondersmoothparchment,sealingitwiththyseal,andintrustingittothehorsemenandservants,whorideaway,faraway,tothecityofthepope?

itisthetimeoffallingleavesandofstrandedships,andsoonicywinterwillcome.

twicehadicywinterreturnedbeforethebishopwelcomedthehorsemenandservantsbacktotheirhome.theycamefromromewithapapaldecree-aban,orbull,againstthewidowwhohaddaredtooffendthepiousbishop."cursedbesheandallthatbelongstoherbeexpelledfromthecongregationandthechurch.letnomanstretchforthahelpinghandtoher,andletfriendsandrelationsavoidherasaplagueandapestilence!"

"whatwillnotbendmustbreak,"saidthebishopofborglum

andallforsakethewidow;butsheholdsfasttohergod.heisherhelperanddefender.

oneservantonly-anoldmaid-remainedfaithfultoher;andwiththeoldservant,thewidowherselffollowedtheplough;andthecropgrew,althoughthelandhadbeencursedbythepopeandbythebishop.

"thouchildofperdition,iwillyetcarryoutmypurpose!"criedthebishopofborglum."nowwillilaythehandofthepopeuponthee,tosummontheebeforethetribunalthatshallcondemnthee!"

thendidthewidowyokethelasttwooxenthatremainedtohertoawagon,andmounteduponthewagon,withheroldservant,andtravelledawayacrosstheheathoutofthedanishland.asastrangershecameintoaforeigncountry,whereastrangetonguewasspokenandwherenewcustomsprevailed.fartherandfarthershejourneyed,towheregreenhillsriseintomountains,andthevineclothestheirsides.strangemerchantsdrivebyher,andtheylookanxiouslyaftertheirwagonsladenwithmerchandise.theyfearanattackfromthearmedfollowersoftherobber-knights.thetwopoorwomen,intheirhumblevehicledrawnbytwoblackoxen,travelfearlesslythroughthedangeroussunkenroadandthroughthedarksomeforest.andnowtheywereinfranconia.andtheremetthemastalwartknight,withatrainoftwelvearmedfollowers.hepaused,gazedatthestrangevehicle,andquestionedthewomenastothegoaloftheirjourneyandtheplacewhencetheycame.thenoneofthemmentionedthylandindenmark,andspokeofhersorrows,ofherwoes,whichweresoontocease,forsodivineprovidencehadwilledit.forthestrangerknightisthewidow'sson!heseizedherhand,heembracedher,andthemotherwept.foryearsshehadnotbeenabletoweep,buthadonlybittenherlipstillthebloodstarted.

itisthetimeoffallingleavesandofstrandedships,andsoonwillicywintercome.

thesearolledwine-tubstotheshoreforthebishop'sthekitchenthedeerroastedonthespitbeforethefire.atborglumitwaswarmandcheerfulintheheatedrooms,whilecoldwinterragedwithout,whenapieceofnewswasbroughttothebishop."jensglob,ofthyland,hascomeback,andhismotherwithhim."jensgloblaidacomplaintagainstthebishop,andsummonedhimbeforethetemporalandthespiritualcourt.

"thatwillavailhimlittle,"saidthebishop."bestleaveoffthyefforts,knightjens."

againitisthetimeoffallingleavesandstrandedships.icywintercomesagain,andthe"whitebees"areswarming,andstingthetraveller'sfacetilltheymelt.

"keenweatherto-day!"