much consideration that the terror of
his name had spread even to Vienna; and the escort of Yagers had been granted by
the Imperial government as much on his account as for any more general reason. A
lady, who was in some way related to the Emperor's family, and, by those who
were in the secret, was reputed to be the Emperor's natural daughter,
accompanied the travelling party, with a suite of female attendants. To this
lady, who was known by the name of the Countess Paulina, the rest of the company
held themselves indebted for their escort; and hence, as much as for her rank,
she was treated with ceremonious respect throughout the journey.
    The Lady Paulina travelled with her suite in coaches, drawn by the most
powerful artillery horses that could be furnished at the various military posts.
3 On this day she had been in the rear; and, having been delayed by an accident,
she was waited for with some impatience by the rest of the party, the latest of
whom had reached Waldenhausen early in the afternoon. It was sunset before her
train of coaches arrived; and, as the danger from Holkerstein commenced about
this point, they were immediately applied to the purpose of strengthening their
encampment against a night attack, by chaining them, together with all the
baggage carts, in a triple line, across the different avenues which seemed most
exposed to a charge of cavalry. Many other preparations were made; the yagers
and dragoons made arrangements for mounting with ease on the first alarm; strong
outposts were established; sentinels posted all round the encampment, who were
duly relieved every hour, in consideration of the extreme cold; and, upon the
whole, as many veteran officers were amongst them, the great body of the
travellers were now able to apply themselves to the task of preparing their
evening refreshments with some degree of comfort; for the elder part of the
company saw that every precaution had been taken, and the younger were not aware
of any extraordinary danger.
    Waldenhausen had formerly been a considerable village. At present there was
no more than one house, surrounded, however, by such a large establishment of
barns, stables, and other outhouses, that, at a little distance, it wore the
appearance of a tolerable hamlet. Most of the outhouses, in their upper stories,
were filled with hay or straw; and there the women and children prepared their
couches for the night, as the warmest resorts in so severe a season. The house
was furnished in the plainest style of a farmer's; but in other respects it was