Mid-day came , then evening , then midnight , and still no Master Peter appeared , and the matter became really serious . Dame Ilse knew right well what a torment she had been to her husband , and remorse caused her the gloomiest forebodings . ` Ah ! Lucia , ' she cried , ' I greatly fear that your father has done himself a mischief . ' And they sat till morning weeping over their own fancies . As soon as it was light they searched every corner of the house again , and examined every nail in the wall and every beam ; but , luckily , Master Peter was not hanging from any of them . After that the neighbours went out with long poles to fish in every ditch and pond , but they found nothing , and then Dame Ilse gave up the idea of ever seeing her husband again and very soon consoled herself , only wondering how the sacks of corn were to be carried to the mill in future . She decided to buy a strong ass to do the work , and having chosen one , and after some bargaining with the owner as to its price , she went to the cupboard in the wall to fetch the money . But what were her feelings when she perceived that every shelf lay empty and bare before her ! For a moment she stood bewildered , then broke into such frightful ravings that Lucia ran to her in alarm ; but as soon as she heard of the disappearance of the money she was heartily glad , and no longer feared that her father had come to any harm , but understood that he must have gone out into the world to seek his fortune in some new way . About a month after this , someone knocked at Dame Ilse 's door one day , and she went to see if it was a customer for meal ; but in stepped a handsome young man , dressed like a duke 's son , who greeted her respectfully , and asked after her pretty daughter as if he were an old friend , though she could not remember having ever set eyes upon him before . However , she invited him to step into the house and be seated while he unfolded his business . With a great air of mystery he begged permission to speak to the fair Lucia , of whose skill in needlework he had heard so much , as he had a commission to give her . Dame Ilse had her own opinion as to what kind of commission it was likely to be -- brought by a young stranger to a pretty maiden ; however , as the meeting would be under her own eye , she made no objection , but called to her industrious daughter , who left off working and came obediently ; but when she saw the stranger she stopped short , blushing , and casting down her eyes . He looked at her fondly , and took her hand , which she tried to draw away , crying : ` Ah ! Friedlin , why are you here ? I thought you were a hundred miles away . Are you come to grieve me again ? ' ` No , dearest girl , ' answered he ; ' I am come to complete your happiness and my own . Since we last met my fortune has utterly changed ; I am no longer the poor vagabond that I was then .
My rich uncle has died , leaving me money and goods in plenty , so that I dare to present myself to your mother XXXXX a suitor for your hand .
Since With after as from in into of that to