 to the windings of the forest, something more than twenty
miles. The range of hills which you observe ahead, but a little inclined to the
left, overhangs Klosterheim; and, with the sun in a more favourable quarter, you
might even at this point descry the pinnacles of the citadel, or the loftiest of
the convent towers. Half an hour will bring us to the close of our day's march.«
    In reality, a few minutes sufficed to bring them within view of the chateau
where their quarters had been prepared for this night. This was a great hunting
establishment, kept up at vast expense by the two last and present Landgraves of
X--. Many interesting anecdotes were connected with the history of this
building; and the beauty of the forest scenery was conspicuous even in winter,
enlivened as the endless woods continued to be by the scarlet berries of
mountain-ash, or the dark verdure of the holly and the ilex. Under her present
frame of pensive feeling, the quiet lawns and long-withdrawing glades of these
vast woods had a touching effect upon the feelings of Paulina; their deep
silence, and the tranquillity which reigned amongst them, contrasting in her
remembrance with the hideous scenes of carnage and desolation through which her
path had too often lain. With these predisposing influences to aid him,
Maximilian found it easy to draw off her attention from the dangers which
pressed upon their situation. Her sympathies were so quick with those whom she
loved that she readily adopted their apparent hopes or their fears; and so
entire was her confidence in the superior judgment, and the perfect gallantry,
of her lover, that her countenance reflected immediately the prevailing
expression of his.
    Under these impressions Maximilian suffered her to remain. It seemed cruel
to disturb her with the truth. He was sensible that continued anxiety, and
dreadful or afflicting spectacles, had with her, as with most persons of her sex
in Germany at that time, unless protected by singular insensibility, somewhat
impaired the firm tone of her mind. He was determined, therefore, to consult her
comfort by disguising or palliating their true situation. But, for his own part,
he could not hide from his conviction the extremity of their danger; nor could
he, when recurring to the precious interests at stake upon the issue of that and
the next day's trials, face with any firmness the afflicting results to which
they tended, under the known barbarity and ruffian character of their
unprincipled enemy.
 

                                   Chapter V

The chateau of Falkenberg, which the travellers reached with the decline of
light, had the usual dependencies of offices and
