Tautphoeus_At_Odds.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
CHAPTER I.
THE HOUSE OF THE WALDEBINGB.
At the end of the long Bavarian plain that extends
southeastward from Munich towards the frontier of
Austria, there is a very extensive and beautifal lake,
called Ghiemsee, and in its neighborhood, for miles
around, a number of others of smaller, and even very
small, dimensions, that more than probably some cen.
turies ago formed with it one vast sheet of water.
These unknown, unnoticed, and sometimes nameless
lakes are frequently bounded by gently-rising slopes or
hills; many have wooded promontories stretching far
into the water, but almost all are more or less disfigured
and contracted by the flags, bulrushes, and other marsh-
plants that grow along the margin of the water in wild
luxuriance.
At the commencement of this century the &mily of
Waldering were in possession of a thick-walled, small-
windowed, high-roofed castle on an island in one of
these lakes. The proper denomination of the building
would have been '' house,'' had not the weatherbeaten
walls of bonnd-masonry, descending into the water,
and a drawbridge, inspired respect, and made it, though
towerless, deserving of the name of castle. And, in
fact, Westenried, or the West Marsh, had been a for-
10 AT ODlg.
tress, and considered nearly impregnable in its time,
that iS; before the discovery of gunpowder; for, were
the drawbridge raised, there was no communication
with the mainland, th^ only means of approach being
a long, lightly-constructed causeway, ^if one may so call
the planks laid on piles driven into the marsh, and
easily removed in case of need, while the water beneath
the -drawbridge and surrounding the island was of very
considerable depth.
The castle formed three sides of a quadrangle open
towards the island, which had been converted into a
garden and orchard. That the offices occupied one
side of the court, and that the stable was opposite the
hall-door, seemed a matter of course to all its posses-
sors, ^at least, no effort had ever been made tct place
them elsewhere ; and, in fact, they corresponded well
with the more useful than ornamental garden and
orchard, in the former of which but a small portion
of ground had been reserved for flowers, and the latter
was a mere meadow, where apple, plum, and pear trees
had ^rown to a good old age, without any particular
care having been devoted to their cultivation.
The pedigree of the Walderings, in the approved
form of a tree, was hung up framed and glazed in the
flagged corridor leading into the chief apartments; and
if it did not, like that of a well-known Hungarian noble-
man, commence with Adam reclining gracefully in a
shady part of the Garden of Eden, the warrior from
whose broad chest the wide-spreading family tree seemed
to rise might be supposed a near relative of Hermann
the Cherusker, ^at least, if one might judge by the
primitive shape of his weapons and the savage nudity
of his person. There were family pictures, too, serving
effectually to conceal the unpapered walls of the cor-
ridor and larger rooms; many with gilt backgrounds,
THE HOUSE OF THE WALDERINGB. 11
. brilliant coloring, and the Chinese disdain of per*
spective that proved almost beyond a doubt their anti-
quity. Had a catalogue of the numerous portraits been
made, the words ** painter unknown" would have been
of more than usual occurrence; but then in the comer
of each picture the name and rank of the original, with
his or her coat of arms, gave them a value in the
opinion of most of the Walderings far surpassing iM
name of an artist, even had the man been Albert Dftrer
himself.
The second floor of the castle contained a tolerably
large suite of apartments, usually reserved for the
widow of the last possessor, a sort of jointure lodging,
seldom, however, used by them, for Westenried was
considered a very dull place, so dull that even the
rest of the building was only occasionally visited by
the count in possession when he came to shoot, or fish,
or look over accounts with his steward ; but the latter,
a pensioned officer and personal friend of the family,
resided there constantly in a few rooms over the arched
way that led from the drawbridge into the court.
Mr. Pallersberg might have had what he would him-
self have called better quarters, had he been disposed
to occupy them ; but both he and his wife considered
it particularly desirable to have a view of the high-road
that had been made along the margin of the lake, and
windows whence they could watch the progress of
loaded wagons in summer and sledges in winter,
packed alike with salt, for the conveyance of which
the road had been made. The village and its church
were also visible at no great distance, and the inn
where the wagoners passed the night so favorably
situated that the well-known figures of the priest, the
schoolmaster, and the wood-ranger could be recognized
as they sat under the trees before the house in summer,
12 AT ODDS.
or miide their presence erident in winter by the iUumi-
nation of the window of the small room reserved for
them or any chance traveler of dlBtinction.
The architecture of this inn denoted the vicinity of
the highlands. The low shingle roof stretched far over
the small square windows; the wooden balcony, bronzed
by age, extended the whole length of the gable; and
above it a fresco painting represented St. Florian in the
act of pouring a bucket of water on a house which, by
a stretch of the imagination, might be supposed a minia-
ture picture of the inn itself, with red and sulphur-
colored flames issuing from every window, while beneath
it, in the form of a scroll, the usual words, '^ O holy
Saint Florian, save my house ^burn others down V* in
all its unchristian selfishness, was considered a preser-
vative against the danger of conflagration.
Late one afternoon at the close of the year 1800,
several persons holding official situations in tiie nearest
town, and all the peasants of the neighborhood, were
assembled at the inn; the latter in groups before the
door, talking anxiously and eagerly of the battle of
Hohenlinden, where Count Waldering (from whose fu-
neral they had just returned) had lost his life a few
days previously.
Some village politicians had just begun to discuss the
possibility of the French army crossing the river Inn^
and passing through their part of the country, when
their attention was attracted by the appearance of a
Bavarian officer, who rode quickly up to them, and was
instantly recognized as the nephew of the late, and
eldest son of the present, possessor of Westenried. The
hostler, who, at flrst supposing him a stranger, had
rushed out to take charge of the horse, and even, from
force of habit, laid his hand on the bridle, no sooner
looked up to the rider's face than he drew back and
THE HOUSE or THE WALDEBINGS. IS
raised his cap, while the peasants, following his exam*
pie; fixed at the same time their eyes on the young man
with looks of intense inquiry.
"Is Mr. Pallersherg here?" he asked, quickly.
** He is within," answered the hostler, '* and just now
thanking the gentlemen for their attendance at the
funeral."
" Tell him I wish to speak to him."
The peasants crowded round the officer, and, though
no one singly ventured to address him, a confused
murmur of questions reached his ears. " The French
likely to cross the Inn? Soad lie this way? ^Danger
for us?"
"I hope not I trust not," replied the young man^
hiting his lip. "Some Wurtembergers and Austrians
may march through the village to-morrow, perhaps."
These words produced a very remarkable consterna-
tion, when it is taken into consideration that the arrival
of friends, not foes, had been announced; but though
Westenried had hitherto escaped the visitation of
marching armies, the inhabitants had suffered enough
from war contributions, and heard enough of the
misery caused elsewhere, not to feel easily and serif
onsly alarmed.
Through an open window the ill news reached the
peasants within the house, and so great were the panic
and eagerness to leave the inn, that Mr. Faller^berg
found his progress to the door greatly impeded, not-
withstanding the respectful efforts of the. gesticulating
villagers to make way for him.
Every trace of color had fled from his ruddy, weather-
beaten face, making the hard brown lines that furrowed
it unusually perceptible ; his lips were parted, his eyes
distended, and long before he reached the door he
seemed vainly to gasp for breath and utterance.
2
14 AT OSIM.
Your Ban is aaft, Mr. Pall^nbeig/' said the offieer^
in imflwer to the mate inquiry; not even wounded in
this unfortunate affair. You wUl 8ee him to-morrow oo
hie way into Austria. As fkr as I have been able to
asoertain/' he added, " we alone in this neighborhood
are mourners.''
Mr. Pallersberg drew a loog breath, and, laying his
hand on the mane of the jaded horse, that with out-
stretehed neck had begun a slow walk towards the
castle, he observed, Your uncle died, as he always
hoped he would, Count Sigmund, a soldier's death on a
field of battle, and I trust he fell without knowing that
bis life was a useless sacrifice."
You must apply to your son for particulars, Pallers-
bevg, for our Bavarian chasseurs were in front, and I
was among the idi^t who got into action ; the Austrian
eavaiiy must have been engaged much later, as they
were in the rear."
"And in such a place," murmured Pallersberg; 'on
a. road in a wood T"
' You don't imagine we had a choice f" said Sigmund.
** Moreau was supposed to be retreating, and never was
an army taken more by surprise than ours when we
encountered the French. The most desperate efforta
were made to get into the open field, but all in vain ;
the advance of artillery and cavalry served no other
purpose than to block up the road and make matters
worse; the sudden attack, the darkness of the wood,
the snow-storm, all combined to put the troops into con*
stantly increasing disorder. The Austrian cavalry
werjB, I hear, greatly cut up, especially my uncle's
regiment, and it is said the Archduke himself has been
wounded."
"And what has become of your aunt's nephew, the
young Irishman who was here with your uncle during
THE HOUSE OV THE WALDERTHQS. 15
the trnee^ and left na to enter the nrmy under bis nns
picea ?*'
'^'Eilled, moBt probably/^ answered Sigmnnd, care-
lessly ; " tbey say be was a reckless sort of fellow, always
patting himself into danger, even when it was not
necessary. The loss is not great, however, as there are
half a dozen brothers of his still in Ireland, though I
doubt any of them wishing to enter the Austrian service,
now that my nt&de's death has deprived them of such
powerful interest."
I fear," observed Major Pallersb^g, "I fear this
win be a great additional grief to your aunt/'
"No doubt; but it will prevent her from bringing any
more of her English and Irish relations to us. My
uncle traveled to Vienna last year in the. depth of winter
to get this O'More iqpointed to his regiment, and ftlt
greater interest for him than for any of his own family/'
** Because he had it in his power to be useM to him,''
replied Mr. Pallersberg; and, after all, the young man
belonged to the family, being nephew by marriage to
your uncle, and, consequently, first cousin to his only
child."
"Hilda's cousins are not my cousins as yet," said
fiigmund ; and then, after a pause, he asked when his
father and brother had arrived at Westenried.
" Yesterday evening."
"Withthe the r
" With the corpse of your uncle, which was frozen as
hard as marble."
" Well, well," said Sigmund, " regrets are useless ; his
fate may be mine to-morrow or the day after, and with
less chance of being buried with my forefathers. War
blunts the feelings, as, ierhaps, you know firom expe*
rience, Mr. Pallersberg."
"It may be so," he answered, gravely, "with rei^ot
U AT 0DD8.
to misfortanes on a great scale, bat not for the loss of
personal friends."
" My uncle's death will not affect you personally, Pal-
lersberg, as I take it for granted you will remain at
Westenriod, but the loss to your son is, I fear, irrepara-
ble; my uncle was a powerful friend for him, both as
bis commanding officer and in consequence of his influ-
ence at head-quarters."
^^I did not mean that, Count Sigmund " began
Mr. Fallersberg, with heightened color.
" But it would be very odd if you did not think of it,"
rejoined Sigmund ; ' for ideas of this kind force them-
selves on such occasions into the mind of the most disin-
terested of human beings."
This speech,. carelessly uttered, gave serious offence,
unnoticed, however, by the young officer, as he passed
under the arched way and entered the court of the
castle. When he alighted, and strode with head erect
into the flagged hall, Pallersberg looked after him, while
thinking it was very evident that Sigmund was resigned
to a loss that had changed his position in the world so
advantageously.
Murmuring something about ''want of a sense of
decorum," Pallersberg ascended the narrow staircase
leading to his apartments, and there expatiated to his
wife in no measured terms on the heartlessness of the
future heir of Westenried. Alas for human nature!
The words that had given him such umbrage were but
the expression of the thought that had actually passed
through his mind on hearing of Count Waldering's
death ; and his wife, who now nodded a sorrowful assent
to all he said, had frequently and without reserve de-
plored the change in their son's prospects; but then
they were not, as she justly observed, the late count's
relations : they were merely friends.
THS VAMILT.
CHAPTBE II.
THE FAMILY.
SiGHUND Wajjobinq BOtight And found his fatiier in
the room that had been used by his late nncle for tran
acting business, nor was he in the least surprised to see
him seated at a writing-table covered with papers, and
BO engrossed by the examination of them that the
entrance of Sigmund waS; for a short time, altogether
onnotioed.
As a rule that had been for some generations without
exception, the eldest son in the Waldering family had
been a soldier, the others lawyers or foresters, aooord-
ing to choice; and, as want of intellect was not common
among them, they had generally been prosperous, and
advanced to high rank in their respective professions.
Sigmund's father was a Director of the Court of Appeals,
and from the time of his elevation to that position, had
been, by his family, friends, and acquaintance, called
The Director." Either his gastronomic tastes, or the
sedentary habits incident to his profession, had impaired
the symmetry of his figure, or rather given it an unusual
degree of corpulence; but his head was still handsome,
with its well-formed features, intelligent eyes, and still
thick hair, just enough powdered to conceal the gray
tufls in the vicinity of his temples. He had been long
a widower, and altogether indisposed to accept any of
the rational matches offered to his consideration by his
various female acquaintances, who, invariably supposing
objections on the part of his sons to be the cause of his
2*
W AT ODDS.
refusalSi continued with antiring peraevorance their
matrimonial specalations. Separated almost constantly^
by the intranquil state of Europe, fi'om his brother, who
tiad early entered the army of the then Emperor of
Germany, and greatly disappointed by his having mar-
ried the widow of an Irish officer in the Austrian
seryice, just when his advanced time of life had encou-
raged reasonable hopes that he would remain unmarried,
and make Sigmund his heir, his death had, nevertheless,
both shocked and grieved The Director." Having,
however, fulfilled his duty of seeking his brother's
remains on the battle-field of Hohenlinden, and having
buried them with as much pomp as circumstances Would
permit, he rejoiced without a qualm of conscience in the
thought that his brother's only child was a daughter,
and set about the examination of his inheritance with
all the ardor of a man of business.
Scarcely any interruption but that of his son's arrival
would have been welcome to him just then. Sigmund,
however, had so recently escaped death, their position
in the world was so suddenly changed, and their interest
henceforward so completely identified, that they met
with unusual emotion ; and after an interchange of a few
hasty questions and answers concerning the movement
of the army, it may be taken as a tribute to the real or
supposed goodness of the Director's heart, that his son
gravely deplored their recent loss, and said not one word
about the uselessness of regrets or the effects of war
upon the feelings.
"Yes, Sigmund, this is a severe affliction, and if so to
us, what must it be to my brother's widow ?"
''I suppose she is inconsolable," replied Sigmund,
" though of course my uncle has provided well both for
her and my cousin Hilda."
"Her own fortune was very considerable, you know,
THE FAMILY. 19
Sigmand; and she allowed it to be employed in paying
off the mortgages that incumbered Westenried. This
is secured to her, and a will has been found leaving
every thing at your uncle's disposal to her and Hilda.
One cannot blame him for taking care of them.''
^'Of course not; but her claims on the estate are
rather alarming, if she demand immediate restitution
of her fortune."
" She will not do so if you declare your intention of
fulfilling the engagement made last year with your
uncle concerning Hilda."
Time enough to talk of that some years hence,''
answered Sigmund ; it would be absurd my engaging
myself formally to such a mere child I"
' Yet something of the kind will be necessary/' sug-
gested his father; "otherwise, I fear your aunt will
persevere in the plan of returning to England or Ireland
as soon as the state of public affairs will permit hep"
Who has put this idea into her head ?" asked Sig-
mund, almost angrily.
'' Her daughter by her first husband, who, you must
have heard, came back to her a couple of months ago
during the truce. She has been educated in Ireland,
greatly dislikes Germany, and openly expresses her
desire to return to the uncle and aunt with whom she
has passed almost all her life."
But," said Sigmund, 'I understood this daughter
was scarcely of an age to have influence on such an
occasion."
^ It seems she has. My sister-in-law explained that
your uncle's dislike to, or rather jealousy of, this daughter,
was the cause of her being intrusted, while still an in-
fant, to the care of an aunt who was married and lived
in Ireland ; that now, but just returned to her after an
absence of twelve years, she was unwilling to make their
so AT ODD0.
Biiion nnpleasatit by a oompnlsory and no longer i
aary resid^ce in a land that was diaag^reeaUe to her.
When I took this into consideration, and remembered
that my sister-in-law had numerous relations both in
England and Ireland, I confess I was completely at a
loss to discover any thing that conld be urged as an in-
ducement to her to prolong her stay here."
"All this may be true," replied Sigmund; "but how,
in the name of all the saints, are we to raise such a sum
of money in times like these ?"
" That is precisely what has been the subject of my
thoughts for the last half-hour," said his fkther ; " and I
can discover no other plan than that you should profess
your desire to fulfill your late uncle's wishes by entering
into an engagement with your cousin Hilda, and declare,
at thp same time, your wish that she should not leave
Germany. This, I think, will suffice; for it is more
than probable that the daughter your aunt has had
with her constantly is dearer to her than the one
who so unreservedly proclaims her preference for other
relations."
" I cannot say that I like binding myself in this way,"
said Sigmund.
' Bemember," continued his [ither, that Hilda will
inherit a considerable fortune from her mother; your
uncle alone has left her enough to satisfy a reasonable
man ; and, besides this, she has expectations from her
grand-aunt in Ulm that, if fulfilled, will make her far
more wealthy than any of our family have ever yet
been."
"I don't say that I will not marry her when she
grows up," said Sigmund ; " but don't you perceive that
she being now but a child of twelve years old will be at
liberty to refuse the fulfillment of the engagement some
years hence, while I am bound to await her decision ?
THE fAMILT. 21
Under gacb circmastanoes; yoa can hardly expect me to
coDBcnt to a betrothal/'
**Then/' retorted his father, "you have no right to
interfere with your aunt's arrangements, and she will
assuredly go with both daughters to England, while we
may prepare to fell the woods here as the only means
of raising such a large sum of money in times like these*
This is, however, ypur affair, ^not mine ; for, having no
intention of ever living at Westenried, I give you foil
power to fell and sell every stick on the property I"
* She cannot travel to England now, even if she wished
it,'' observed Sigmund, in a voice of extreme irritation.
" Nor need yoa come to a decision until there is either
a peace or truce that will admit of her leaving us,"
answered his father, rising from the table, pushing aside
. the papers on it, and walking deliberately out of the
room to end a conversation that was so evidently verg*
ing towards one of those ebullitions of temper to which
Sigmund not unfrequently yielded.
More displeased than obliged by his father's forbear-
ance, Sigmund strode up and down the room, with
firmly-folded arms, until a slight movement of the door
leading into another apartment, and a soft voice de*
manding permission to enter, attracted his attention.
" Come in !" he cried, harshly, and a very young girl
availed herself of the gruff permission, who at any other
time and under any other circumstances would not
have failed, notwithstanding her extreme youth, to
attract him in no slight degree ; but the dark-blue eyes
and delicate loveliness of Doris O'More's face and figure
were just then ineffectual to dispel the scowl that lowered
on Sigmund's countenance, when it occurred to him that
in her he saw the person whose longing for a more
cheerful home than Westenried was about to cause him
BO mach embarrassment.
22 AT nDfl.
Sbo had spoken French, but, ^vppoeing that the
language -of Hhe enemy" had given nmbrage, now
began, with some difficulty, to make inquiries in Ger-
man about her ' cousin Frank/' who must have been
with Count Waldering at the battle of Hohenlinden.
How should I know any thing about yoUr cousin V
he asked, sternly.
^I thought, perhaps, that, as he was with your
uncle, and as you were able to send a messenger from
Hohenlinden to Munich to announce his death, you
might have obtained some information at the same time
concerning Frank.''
'* I made no inquiries about him," said Sigmund.
" You were able to give Mr. Fallorsberg the assur-
ance that his son lives," continued Doris, ''and it is for
this reason I apply to you : they were together, in the
same troop ; you spoke to one ^you may have seen the
other."
** I did not see him," said Sigmund, beginning to
feel a very unamiable satisfaction in watching the vary-
ing color and increasing agitation of the young girl.
If," she began, with trembling lips, ''if he ^had
fallen ^would they have brought him here for
burial?"
'' Certainly not. What right has he to be buried at
Westenried?"
The rudeness of this speech seemed to strike her :
she had mistaken his short answers for a desire to spare
her feelings ; but now, suddenly perceiving that ill will
or anger could alone prompt such harshness, she caught
at the shadow of consolation, and, trusting that one so
hard-hearted was not likely to conceal any painful intel-
ligence, her hopes revived, and she turned away, mur-
muring, " As you have not heard of his death, we may
hope to see him again !"
imiBii0& 23
^ Tour cluiiioe is not great/' sud Blgmtrnd ; ibr your
eonsm was last seen with my tinole completely sar*
rounded by the enemy, and, if not killed, he is oer*
tainly missing, as he w|M not with his regiment when I
spoke to Paliersberg after the battle/'
** And what will be his fate, if missing V
" Years of imprisonment in France," answered 8ig-
mund, as he walked across the room and only stopped
for a moment to look back at the poor girl, who had
covered her face with her hands in the vain endea*
vor to hide her giief fhm so nnsympathixing tat
observer.
CHAPTER ni.
FRISNDS.
SiGBfUKD Waldbbing left Westenried the next mom
ing to join his regiment; his father's departure for
Munich followed a few hours later. About noon the
widow and her daughters bad removed to the second
floor, while a single room on the f rst gave evidence of
still being inhabited, not only by the open jalousies of
a couple of windows, but also by the not unfrequent
appearance of a youthful head and figure that, careless
of cold, leaned out to feed and watch the flights of
the inhabitants of an adjacent dovecot, or follow with
interest the various occupations of the busy pecking
fowl that with permission had taken up their resi-
dence in the offices for the winter, two or three small
openings having been considerately made in the wall
for their convenient ingress and egress. Geese were
there stretching their necks and flapping their wings
24 AT ODDS.
with horrid BcreaiiiB, indicative of dissatisfitetioii that
the frozen lake no longer afforded them their accus-
tomed recreation. Waddling ducks consoled themselves
by gobbling up every thing eatable that came in their
way; a tarkey-cock strutted about unnoticed by a
pair of magnificent peacocks perched on the icicled
iron railing of the fountain ; some pet rabbits scam-
pered and a tame raven hopped about the court; so
when we add that a couple of cats gracefully boxed
each other's ears when an opportunity offered, and
dogs were ready to bark at any unusual sound, it is
to be hoped that some good-natured readers will not
altogether despise the Director's youngest son, Emme-
ran, for braving the hard frost of a December day, in
order to contemplate such ordinary sights; the more
so as, although of a decidedly meditative disposition,
he probably just then made no moral reflections on,
or playful comparisons between, the animals before
him and persons of his acquaintance. If one might
judge by the expression of his countenance, the pomp-
ous turkey, aristocratic peacocks, gluttonous ducks,
the quarrels of the cats, the snarling of dogs for the
possession of a bone long bleached and marrowless,
afforded him amusement in exact proportion to the
noise and commotion caused, and, as far as lay in his
power, he increased the propensity to strife by fre-
quently flinging bread among the combatants.
The cold was, however, intense; and ever and anon
a retreat into the room became necessary, where, with
the latest work of Jean Paul in his hand, and student-
cap still on his head, he walked up and down, reading
and meditating alternately.
Emmeran Waldering was a tall, delicate-looking young
man, without any pretension to good looks, but gentle-
manlike, and of not altogether uninteresting appear-
miSNDS. 25
aiice in his \Aai6k velvet elabonftely-braided Teutonic
coat, open shirtrcollar^ tight pantalcSns and boots, or
rather buskins of soft black leather that could be drawn
over the knee at pleasure. The smart little blue and
silver cerevis cap was planted so jauntily on his head,
that it seemed more intended to keep his long fair hair
m order than for any other purpose. The length of his
pipe would have satisfied a Turk, and there were blue
and white tassels pendent fW)m it that might have
served as terminations to bell-ropes, with the addition
of the blue and white ribbon that he wore across his
breast. His position in the world to a German eye was
as plain as if he were habited in a military uniform.
He was a student of the corps Bavaria/' and to a nice
observer the feet that this badge-ribbon had three stripes
^that is, was " white, blue, white*' suf9ced to indicate
him as a person of importance in his corps, one to be
consulted in cases of "scandal," which means, in Eng-
lish, rows," and the duels that generally followed such
events.
Before Emmeran had acknowledged to himself that
solitude was becoming irksome, Mr. Pallersberg ap-
peared at the door, and informed him that the first
detachment of Austrians having reached the village, he
was going there to see his son, adding that if Emmeran
had nothing better to do he might as well accompany
him. A request had been made for forage, which he
believed it would be necessary to attend to.
" Of course, of course," cried Emmeran, * and broad
and wine, and and ^in short, whatever we have to
give."
" In fact," said Pallersberg, " we may as well be gene
rous; for what we do not give them may be taken by
the enemy before long."
^ Jo you mean that the French are following?"
3
26 AT ODDS.
I fear/' he answered, ^ there is bat little chance that
they will not do s^." .
* Indeed I then let ns destroy our causeway and raise
the drawbridge."
"Of what use," said Mr. Pallersberg, "when the lake
is fVosen as it has not been these ten years, and the ice
so strong that they can walk into the orchard and court
at pleasure V
" This frost is a confounded nuisance/' said Emmeran,
** and I was foolish enough this morning to rejoice in the
prospect of skating. What are we to do V
We must conceal the plate and other valuables ia
the paneled ceiling of the dining-room, where a place
was made for such things in times even wilder than
these."
'^And you really think that such precautions are
necessary V
Pallersberg shrugged his shoulders. ** Let us not lead
even our enemies into temptation/' he said. "Should
we have time, I propose removing wine and linen to the
little Chapel-island in the middle of the lake : they will
scarcely have time to rummage the vaults of the church-
ruin there. It is the habit of the French to make war
support war, and they will assuredly help themselves to
whatever they want. And now I believe I must beg
of you to walk on quickly, as my son has but one hour
to remain in the village, and my wife is waiting on the
bridge intending to accompany us, and is taking with
her provisions that will make her very welcome not
only to him but also his comrades." He turned round
before leaving the court, and, looking up to one of the
windows, raised his hat.
" A pretty girl, that Mademoiselle O'More !" said Em-
meran, following the direction of his eyes and raising
his cap, although the young lady's arrival at Westenned
rsiSNBa. 27
had been bo recent that he had not yet had an oppor
tunitj of becoming personally acquainted with her;
" a yery pretty girl I"
"Yes, poor child T' answered PaHersberg; "and she
is just now in despair about her cousin, who has been
missing since the battle of Hohenlinden. She wanted
to go with me to the village to make inquiries in person,
but her mother very properly would not consent, and I
consoled her by a promise to send a messenger in case
my son should be able to give any farther information
concerning him. She Nknows nothing of such scenes
excepting from books or newspapers, and expects a list
of the killed and wounded three or four days after the
engagement."
As Emmeran and Mr. Pallersberg disappeared beneath
the archway, Doris slowly left the window and returned
to the drawing-room, where her mother was seated at a
small work-table cutting up bits of muslin and crape,
in the vain endeavor to make herself something re-
sembling that hideous and essentially English head-
gear, a widow's cap. Her eyes bore traces of long-
continued weeping, but the swelled eyelids, though red,
were tearless^ and there was a look of resolute self-con-
trol, not only in the small features of her still interest-
ing face, but even in her figure, and the manner in
which she pursued her occupation. Stooping towards
her youngest daughter Hilda, who sat on a footstool
beside her, she whispered a few words, probably a re-
quest to be left alone with Doris; for the young girl
instantly rose, kissed her mother's cheek, and went out
of the room without speaking. - ^
"Doris," observed the Countess Waldering, after a
pause, ' I regret much being obliged to refuse this first
request that you have made, but the village when oc-
cupied by troops on the march is no fit place for yon.
28 AT ODDS.
and Mr PaUenberg will get from his son all the inform-
ation that can be obtained about Frank."
Doris walked to one of the windows, without reply-
ing, and appeared to gaze on the half-frozen lake and
trees white with frost, while large tears fell slowly from
her eyes.
* Could I have foreseen/' continued her mother, ''had
I even thought of the possibility of what has occurred,
I should never have desired your coming abroad ; but a
peace seemed so certain, that it was natural I should
take advantage of your being able to travel here with
our friends the Beauchamps. You can understand my
wish to see you again, and regain or obtain your affec
tion, Doris r
'' Yes, mamma, but it is a useless effort if you expect
me ever to like you as well, or half as well, as my aunt^
who has been, indeed, a mother to me 1"
" Never mind what I expect, Doris. Let me hope
that in time, without any diminution of your regard
for your aunt, you will give me also a place in your
heart."
" I don't at all dislike you," began Doris.
' That will do for a beginning," said her mother, with
a faint smile.
" But,'j continued Doris, turning completely towards
her, '' but I could almost do so when I remember that
your letters were the cause of dear Frank's leaving hia
country, and being now either a prisoner or dead, ^per-
haps lying still unburied on the snow at Hohenlinden,
a disfigured frozen corpse like Count Waldering's !"
Fresh tears started to her eyes at the picture her
imagination had conjured up, and she glanced indig-
nantly at her apparently unmoved mother.
'* Thank Heaven !" she continued, '' Feargus was
less dazzled than Frank by your description of the
FRIENDS. 29
glories of the Irish Brigade, and the manner in which
our national names were respected on the Continent t
Poor Frank's head was completely filled with the idea
of becoming Field-Marshal, or Grand Croix of the The-
resian Order, a Count of the Boman Empire, or I know
not what all, like the O'Keillys, O'Connors, O'Donnells,
and all the rest of them I"
'In times such as these,'' said her mother, '^his
chances were as good as those of any of his predeces-
sors, and the letter that so displeased yon, Doris, was
written at the urgent request of your uncle."
My uncle ?"
Tes: he wrote telling me of the embarrassed state
of his affairs, and the difficulty of providing for seven
sons more inclined to live at Grarvagh in gentlemanlike
idleness than to pursue the studies necessary for the
professions they had chosen. He even asked me to use
my influence with your step-father to obtain admission
in the Austrian army for both Frank and Feargiis, and
was thankful that my letter had induced one at least
to leave home and make an effort to become independ*
ent."
" And now ?" asked Doris : ^' what will he say now V
"I know not," answered her mother, "but I have
resolved not to write until I have some certain inform-
ation to give him."
At this moment the sound of hasty steps on the
flagged floor of the corridor attracted their attention :
it was that of booted, spurred feet, and in breathless
anxiety they awaited the approach of the expected
messenger from the village, simultaneously answering
the hurried knock which scarcely preceded the entrance
of a young man in the uniform of an Atistrian dragoon.
He seized the extended hand of the Countess Walder-
ing and pressed it repeatedly to his lips, while incohe-
3*
80 AT ODDS.
rently uttmng some words of oondoknce, made more
than intelligible bj hia extreme agitation.
I thank you sincerely, Captain Pallersberg; for this
attention/' she said, in a low voice : '* it is most kind,
for from you alone I can hope to hear all that occurred
at Hohenlinden/'
" And unfortunately," he answered, " unfortunately I
have but a few minutes at my disposal ; we march in
half an hour."
" Then tell me only of the fate of that poor boy, who
perhaps has escaped death, as you did not see him
fall."
No; but he was with Count Waldering and in im-
minent danger when I last saw him, so gallant and so
fearless that we can only console ourselves with the
hope that he has been overpowered by numbers and
taken prisoner. I mentioned this to Sigmund Walder-
ing, but, as he was not personally a(^qaainted with your
nephew, he may have forgotten to speak of him."
''Not exactly," said the countess; ''for he told my
daughter, when she asked him, that Frank was either
killed or a prisoner ; but we hoped that since then you
might have obtained some further information."
"None on that subject," he answered, sorrowfully,
^ but more on another than you will like to hear. The
French are not only following us, but, their right wing
having crossed the Inn at Neubayem, there is little
doubt of their being here directly. My father agrees
with me in thinking it better for you and your daugh-
ters to remove to the vaults under the ruin on the
Chapel-island. The chances of a thaw are too slight to
admit of a thought of refusing entrance to the castle,
but the water round the Chapel-island is not likely to
be frozen at present ; some arrangements can be made
FRIENDS. 31
for your reception there, and the discomfort, though
great, will not last long."
** That is of little importance," she said ; ' and if there
are others who wish to take refuge in these vaults, I
must request your father not to reserve them for me
alone."
" The villagers," he answered, ^' propose sending most
of the women and all the children out of the neighbor^
hood, and intei^d to drive their cattle into the woods*
Whatever cannot be removed or hid must be sacrificed;
and they are tolerably resigned, though they have been
obliged to supply our troops with rations and forage. '
I trust that this first may also be the last time that the
chances of war will bring the plague of marching
armies, whether friends or foes, to this hitherto so
fortunate place."
Here the sound of trumpets caused him to cease
speaking.
" Iknow what that means," said the countess, " and
shall not attempt to detain you. I wish I could per
haps I can be of use. You mentioned, in a letter to
your &ther, that you were badly mounted Count
Waldering left one of his horses here for me that Is
quite at your service, and you shall be put into imme"
diate possession.''
The young man made a fhint attempt to decline the
welcome present, to which no attention was paid ; but
when they reached the court, and the well-known
charger of his late colonel was led from the stable, he
stooped down, on pretence of assisting the groom to
fasten the bridle, in order to hide his emotion.
^' I have given you a good master, old fellow," said
the countess, caressing the horse's head as he bent it
towards her and stamped his forefoot impatiently on
the pavement. I wish I could add a talisman to save
82 AT ODDS.
you and your rider flrom the fate of him who left me on
this spot but a few weeks ago ! If warm wishes for
your safety and fervent prayers for the speedy termina-
tion of this war be of avail, Captain Pallersberg; I can
promise both. Farewell and speed well I" she added,
as once more the sound of trumpets from the village
reached them ; and the young officer, after a vain effort
to express his thanks, vaulted into the saddle and
dashed, almost in full career, over the drawbridge and
up the hill beyond.
'* He rides well," said Doris, musingly, '^and was per-
haps kind to Frank. I ^believe I could like him,
though he is a German V
CHAPTBE IV.
FOES.
Thx court of Westenried, during the remainder, of
the afternoon, was a scene of turmoil and confusion ;
the peasants' wives brought every portable object of
value there, and could with difficulty be made to under-
stand the impossibility of attempting a defense of the
eastle. They entreated permission to put some of their
effects in the cellars, and, notwithstanding Mr. Pallers-
berg's assurance that they were by no means safe there,
packed every place unoccupied with beds and boxes.
"The Countess Waldering brought some order among
the despairing women when she proposed their sending
money, trinkets, and whatever else they had time to
remove, to the Chapel-island, and a superstitious feeling
of security took possession of them all when they found
ros. 83
themselveB preceded to the flat-bottomed boats by the
prieet earrying the silver vessels of the church. These
boatSy the hollowed traoks of trees^ were shoved along
the ice^ as &r as it reached^ then launched on the water^
and before long the little Chapel-island became fbr the
time-being visibly inhabited, the bright color of the
women's dresses gleaming in the sunshine beneath the
leafless trees and contrasting strongly with the gray
walls of the ruin and snow-covered ground.
" This will never do !" cried Pallersberg, impatiently ;
*Hhese women wiU spend the whole afternoon putting
their goods in order, instead of returning here and
giving us time to make some arrangement for you and
your daughters' comfort before the French arrive."
" We shall not want much for so short a time," an-
swered the countess/^' and we are well provided with
fur and warm clothes, so that with a. basket of provi-
sions we shall do very well. I have left the keys in the
wardrobes, as I do not wish them to be broken open in
the idea that they contain things likely to be useful.
What I possess of real value is in this trunk, and we
are ready to emigrate the moment the boats return."
"Mr. Pallersberg," said Doris, coming from the
stable, where she had been looking round her anx
iously, '^ what have they done with Brian Boru V*
She had given this not very appropriate name to a
young Hungarian horse, her mother's first present to
her after their meeting.
" Bronboor has been turned into the marsh," he an-
swered, smiling ; ' and I am much mistaken if he allow
himself to be easily caught. I wish I were as sure of
finding all our live stock safe after our unwelcome
visitors have left us as of seeing him, with disordered
mane and mud-incrusted legs, on the margin of the
lake."
^i AT ODt8.
** And my pony ?" cried Hilda ; " where is he ?' '
'The pony/' said Emmeran, joining them, **i eafo;
his diminutive proportions will prove his best protec-
tion. And now, Hilda, ask your sister if she will ac*
knowledge onr relationship, and permit me to call her
^ cousin' V
" Are yon, in fact, my cousin V* asked Doris.
'Do not examine this relationship too accurately,
Doris," interposed her mother; '^ remember that I con*
sider Emmeran my nephew.'^
"He is, however, only a cousin by marriage, not a
real cousin^erman/* said Doris.
" No, I am only a German 0\isin/' he replied, laugh-
ing, as he bowed over her reluctantly-extended hand,
and lightly touched it with his lips.
Before Doris had recovered from her surprise at what
appeared to her a foreign and very theatrical mode of
commencing an acquaintance, Madame Pallersberg came
towards them, directing the caiTiage of baskets filled
with clothes, among which Emmeran, to his no small
astonishment, observed various articles of his own ap*
parel, the appearance of which was justified by the
explanation, ' that there was no time for long consult-
ations; clothes were just the things of all others likely
to be carried off by the French republicans, who were
notoriously in want of them especially trowsers !"
Just then observing a wounded Austrian officer and
some soldiers carried into the court, she hurried to-
wards them, followed by Doris and her mother, while
Pallersberg first shouted vainly to the loiterers on the
Chapel-island, and then, with Emmeran's assistance,
commenced drawing the trunks, baskets, and bags across
the ice to the water's edge.
The sun was already perceptibly disappearing behind
the wpoded hills, and shining red with expanding disk
tons. 3d
throagh the frosty evening fog; an orange-tinted eky
was reflected dimly in the Btill unfrozen part of the lake,
and a colored hrilliancy pervaded the crystals of ice that
began to form a crust on every tree, pine-needle, and
still visible shrab. Before long Pallersberg fonnd the
same process commencing on the long hairs of his mus
tache, and was raising his hand to remove what he eon-
Bi4|^ more attractive on plants than human hair,
when he heard a distant ranz des vaches blown throagh
a cow-horn, the long, low, peculiarly inharmonious sound
of which seemed to startle in a peculiar manner every
hearer. It was, in fact, the signal from a neighboring
hill that the French were in sight, and one of the boats
instantly left the Chapel-islarrd ; into the other the
peasants crowded in a disorderly manner, while Boris,
Hilda, and their mother ran through the orchard, and
sprang upon the ice, followed by servants carrying
camp-stools, a table, and some bedding.
^'I knew they would dawdle about the vaults until
the last moment/' muttered Pallersberg. '' March I off
with you V* he cried impisitiently to the terrified peasants^
as they tumbled over each other in their endeavors to
leave the boat; and then he added, as he assisted the
countess into it, ^' The gardener and his son will remain
in the island with you, and well armed, though I do not
think there is the slightest chance of your being dis-
turbed or alarmed there."
^'Nor do I feel any anxiety on that account,'' she an-
swered; "for though the lateness of the hour may
induce the enemy to pass the night in the village and
its environs, it is not probable that any one at this time
of year will have any inclination for a cold bath ; and,
as we shall have both boats on the island, no one can
reach us otherwise than by swimming."
'^ Just what my son said when be proposed your going
86 AT ODDS.
there; for my own part, I only thought of the raiilts
as a place of safety for our wine and linen. Adieu,
madame. I wish it were this time to-morrow, and I
stood here to release yon from imprisonment/'
The Chapel-island was in the middle of the broadest
part of the lake, and was, and is still, covered with
beech-trees of unknown age, chiefly preserved for their
leaves, which, in forest districts, are considered a g||od
substitute for straw. Through the denuded branches
some undefined masses of ivy-covered walls were visible,
and in the midst of them the ruin of a chapel evidently
of later date, but roofless, and the long narrow windows
retaining their form alone where the carved stone
fhimes had resisted the dilapidations incident to constant
exposure to the weather.
In the interior of this ruin a sort of shed had been
erected to shelter the trap-door entrance to the vaults
that had formerly been concealed by the altar. These
vaults were, of course, said to be haunted, and many a
courageous man in the neighborhood would have declined
passing a few hours of the night alone in them. Never-
theless, no vestige of human bones had Jbeen found there
within memory of man, and both extent and arcbitectare
were calculated rather to lead to the supposition that
they had been the cellars, perhaps also the prison, of the
stronghold that had stood on the island in the tenth
century, and which had been built so as completely to
command the Boman road still easily traceable through
the wood on the opposite shore, in appearance a long,
straight, green avenue, ^masses of stone on which grass,
but not trees, could flourish.
If Doris had felt any dismay on descending the steps
conducting to these vaults, it was quickly overcome; for
the resemblance to the hold of a ship occurred to her
the moment she reached the ground and looked ronnd
jroEs. tt
the space but dimly lighted by a lantern which the
gardener carried before her mother. Boxes, trankSi
and parcels were heaped in a not altogether disorderly
manner around the place below the entrance, while the
adjoining cellars, though furnished with grated openings
for the admission of air, had been left unused, the rows
of bins being supposed to have originally served as
receptacles for coffins.
Though Doris was not more afraid of ghosts and
goblins than other young people, perhaps even less so,
she never boasted of her courage, and openly expressed
her dislike to hearing ' little noises'' at night, or having
" queer dreams;" yet being blessed, or the contrary, with
a vivid imagination, the long narrow niches had made
a disagreeable impression on her also, and she perceived
with satisfaction that her mother moved on to the more
open space immediately beneath the church, a crjrpt-
like place, with its low closely-vaulted ceiling supported
by two rows of short, thick, rough stone pillars. Against
the dark walls, brigbt-colored bedding was heaped; fbr
most of the peasant-women had made an effort to save
at least their bejst bed from the enemy. On these Hilda
made a few childish bounds, stumbling afterwards over
the linen and Sunday clothes that lay beside them, and
finally seated herself on the ground in order to examine
at her leisure the numerous crucifixes and prayer-books
reverently placed together by the peasants. DoriSi
when called upon to look at them, observed that the
care taken of them showed much religious feeling, but,
in point of feet, they would have been in no danger
whatever, and might as well have been left in the houses.
^rm not so sure of that, miss,'' said the gardener;
" for since the French have left off being Christians,
they would as willingly light a fire with them as with
chips I"
4
S8 AT 0DD8.
''I only meant tbey would not take them away with
them/' replied Boris.
^ It IB one of the mlBfortanes of war/' observed her
mother, ^'that more things are wantonly destroyed
than nsed from necessity; and this not only by enemies,
but also by friends, and not nnfrequently even by sol-
diers moving abont in their own country daring war
time."
*' Bat, mamma, I wonder the officers don't interfere
on sach occasions."
So they do, my dear; bat it is impossible for them
to be everywhere, and little time is necessary for mach
mischief."
" I am sore/' cried Doris, ** that English troops would
never take any thing from poor villagers without paying
for it, no, not even if they were enemies I"
^ And I am afraid, Doris, that men so much resemble
each other, that all civilized nations are much on a par
in war. This morning the Austrian troops slaughtered
several oxen, but gave the proprietors written acknow-
ledgments, which will entitle them to compensation
frtm government : that the French will take whatever
they want from their enemies, and without acknowledg-
ment, is a matter of course."
" The poor villagers I" said Doris, " how I pity them,
and how I hate the French, all all, ^from the First
Consul in his cocked hat to our imigree governess,
Madame Fredon, and from her to the smallest drum-
mer now marching past the lake."
" A wide range for hatred, Doris ! but it is not very
intense, perhaps, and subject to exceptions."
'' Only one exception, mamma, and that no longer
one."
"Probably the young French legitimist recom-
90X8. - n
mended to your nnde^s good offices hy the AbM
Edgeworth V
" Yes, mamma, we could not help liking Henri d'Es-
terre when he was living with us at Garvagh ; but, now
that he has gone back to France and turned republican^
we quite detest him, and make a law among ourselves
never to name him/'
And how many other French men and women have
you known, Doris ? for that also should be taken into
consideration/'
Doris was silent, and her mother^ continued, ' I can
easily imagine your feeling some dislike to a governess
whose duty it was to compel you to speak a language
you young people thought it patriotic not to learn ; she
may also have made herself personally disagreeable:
but of two, to like one is a strong testimony in &vor
of our enemies, at least as far as your actual ezpe*
rience reaches/'
' I acknowledge that as usual you have the beat of
the argument, mamma/' said Doris, with ill-concealed
annoyance ; ' my aunt thought me capable of forming
an opinion, but it is evident you consider me childish,
and perhaps even more frivolous than I really am/'
"I think you have very strong prejudices, Doris,
and an unreasonable aversion to every thing foreign or
unlike what you have been accustomed to at.Grarvagh/'
" My hatred of the French a prejudice V
" As far as it concerns individuals, yes/'
'' And my dislike to Germany and the Germans V
''Also prejudice, because you as yet know nothing of
either; but, to prove I do not think you so childish
as you suppose, let me tell you that your openly ex-
pressed antipathy to every thiug and person here has
given me great pain and caused me much embarrass-
ment. I trust, however, as I am about to return to
49 AT OBD6.
Ireland on jour Meonuty yon will be Mtiafied with the
eacrifioe.''
*' Saorifioey mamma J Ib it possible yon do not rejoice
to leave snoh an nnoivilized coontiy and this wild on-
cultivated place V
Her mother shook her head.
'^ Kot long to see my darling ancle, who speaks of
yon with such affection ? Is it possible that you can
dislike or be indifferent to him V
" Quite the contrary/' said her mother.
* And my aiint, veur own sister f"
'I am sincerely attached to her, and owe her a debt
of gratitude for her care of you that I shall never be
able to repay."
And then all our other relations and friends V
"They have forgotten me, Doris; for so long and
complete a separation is death to most friendships, and
when I left Ireland I never intended to return.''
"Yet had my fether lived " began Doris, and
then stopped suddenly on observing that her mother
turned towards her with a look of piercing inquiry.
Here the gardener entered to exchange the lantern
for a lamp, and, as he placed the latter on the table,
observed, " The enemy is on the way to the village, and
my son thinks there are horses and soldiers in the court
of the castle, at least something moving and shining
can be seen through the trees. I shouldn't wonder if
most of the generals and colonels were billeted on us,
and they will no doubt make free with all my winter
vegetables."
" Take care, Doris," said her mother, on perceiving
her following the gardener towards the stone steps,
"take care you do not attract attention."
" Not the least danger, mamma, if I cover myself with
a white cloth and represent a ghost! What a place
REMINISCXNCSS. 41
thifr would be, to bom salt with spirits of wine^ and
make people look like corpses ! Oh, forgive me. I
ought not to have reminded you I ^I really seem
doomed since I came to Germany never to say or do any
thing right. . You must send me back to Ireland, mamma,
the first opportunity, and forget me altogether I"
Throwing a white quilt over her head and shoulders,
and letting it fall around her, Doris left the vault with
rapid steps, her mother's thoughtful eyes following the
movements of her slight figure as long as it remained
in sight.
^^ Will you let her leave us, mamma V asked Hilda.
'^ Yes, my dear child ; as I cannot make her like us
or onr country, she shall return to Ireland the first
opportunity that offers, and you will be once more my
only hope and treasure."
CHAPTER V.
BBMINISCENOSS.
The glow of sunset was over, and the frosty air had
become colder, when Doris, with the gardener's assist*
ance, mounted a heap of stones and began to peer
through one of the window-frames of the ruin. Lights
glimmered from all the houses in the village that were
in sight, and an inauspicious illumination of most of
the apartments in the castle had already commenced.
Candles and lanterns^ ignis-fatuus like, seemed, to hover
about the stables, throwing gleams of light on shining
objects that most probably were pyramids of arms,
while dark moving masses might still be distinguished
on the road, and confused sounds of horses' hoo&i rat-
42 AT ODDS.
tliBg wheelfly drama, bugles, and haman voiooa readiied
her BofSciMitly diatinctly to caase the first feeling of
personal anxiety she bad as yet experienced.
])o you really think there is no danger of their
coming to the island ?" she asked the old man who stood
beside her. " I have read of the French crossing rivers
on IKmtoon boats that they carry about with them.''
" Very likelyi miss, when they knew what it was forj
but, after a hfurd day's march, few of them will think it
worth while to look towards an island like this, without
a house upon it."
*Very true/' said Doris; "it was absurd my sup-
posing such a thing at all likely to happen ; but this is
the first time I have ever been near marching armieS|
and I cannot help feeling a little uneasy."
^You may go to bed; and sleep as sound as a dor
mouse," he answered, good-humoredly ; " Mr. Pallersberg
has told us not to give alarm by firing gun or pistol ex-
cept in the last extremity, though we may slash about
us with the old swords and sabres if any one attempt a
landing."
"I am very sorry it is so cold for you and your
son ^" began Doris.
'^ Michael doesn't mind it, miss; he was often out
shooting with the count in colder weather, and will be
on the look-out until daybreak, when, as that is about
the time I am generally up and busy, I can take his
place."
"And then," said Doris, "I shall come here again.
It is so dark now one can only see the lighted windows,
and the jnrater around us that looks as black as ink.
Tou must promise to waken me when your turn comes
to mount guard," she added, as they descended to the
vaults; "I shall be so glad to see these hateful French
marching off."
BIMUi'ISCXHOES. 41
Doris found Hilda already stretched on a mattress^
fiut asleep. A sunilar bed had been prepared for Doris,
who immediately took possession of it, saying, as she
lay down, that having satisfied herself that they were
in no danger she intended to sleep soundly until
morning.
I hope you may," said her mother, reseating herself
at the table so as to shade Doris from the light, while
leaning forward she bent over one of the prayer-books
rescued so anxiously from the dreaded impiety of the
republicans, a Latin missal belonging to the school*
master, which opened, as it were, of itself at the
Bequiem. This was not pleasant reading, and may per*
haps have been one of the reasons that caused the face
of the reader to grow paler and paler. Before longi
however, her thoughts evidently wandered to other,
though scarcely more cheerful, subjects; for her eyes
slowly left the page of the book and settled on the ring
of bright light thrown by the shaded lamp on the tablCi
and rested there with the absent, almost sightless, gaze
of Bevery. Was it the Bequiem or her daughter's
heedless words half an hour previously that recalled so
vividly the image of her late husband's frozen corpse f
Most probably the latter; for after a harrowing recol-
lection of all that had occurred during the few last days,
a flash of memory brought before her a lofty dining-
room, with lights extinguished, and on a table in the
centre a dish with salt in spirits of wine burning bluely.
Intervening time was forgotten, and she was passing
a Christmas in Ireland with her only sister, who had
been many years married to Mr. O'More of Garvagh.
Half a dozen wild boys were there, who with busy hands
stirred the salt until the very portraits on the walls
peemed turned to corpses ; while the younger ones, not
satisfied with their already frightfully cadaverous ap*
44 AT ODDS.
pearanc6y made the most hideons grimaoes, tarning to
her as if for enooiiragement and approval. Beside her
stood her sister's brother-in-law, a captain in the Ans-
trian army, at home on leave ; and well she remembered
that then and there he had first alarmed her with vehe-
ment professions of love and a proposal to share his
roving life in a foreign ootmtry. Never had she seen a
face so disfigured by anger as his on hearing her reftisal ;
never had she heard such violent and volnble reproaches
as his for having received his attentions more willingly
than those of others; her excuse that with him, as a sort
of connection, she had felt unrestrained, being listened
to with scorn and derision.
From that time she had avoided and feared Captain
O'More, and greatly rejoiced when he left home before
the expiration of his leave of absence, ostensibly to join
his regiment in Germany. Such was, however, by no
means his intention. He returned secretly to the neigh-
borhood, concealed himself in a peasant's house for some
time, and found at last an opportunity, late one evening
when she was walking alone in the demesne, to carry
her ofP by force, and with the assistance of some lawless
friends he kept her prisoner until she consented to
become his wife.
Such daring acts of violence to women were by no
means uncommon in Ireland at that period, or even
much later, and they were judged by the public with a
leniency that now seems incomprehensible. The rela-
tions on both sides endeavored on this occasion to give
a fiagrant case of abduction the name of elopement, and
little more was known than that the handsome Austrian
dragoon had carried off an English heiress who had left
Ireland with the openly-expressed determination never
to return there.
The hard trial of living with a man she could nov
' BEMUmOlllOES. 46
love, aiid whose violtie6 she had learnt to fear, was of
short duration. Some months after their marriage he
lost his life in a duel) and a year later she beeame the
wife of Count Waldering. Thenceforward the only
drawback to her happiness was her husband's jealous
dislike to her infant child, Dorii^, which not even the
birth of his own daughter Hilda could mitigate; and at
length she had been obliged to send her with her own
maid to Ireland, and eventually resigned her altogether
to the care of her sister.
It is a dangerous experiment on the part of any
mother; this confiding the education of a daughter to
others, and for this reason, probably, boarding-schools
are now seldom resorted to in England, excepting in
cases of absolute necessity. Had Doris been at one, she
might have felt a sort of satisfaction in the hope of ob
taining freedom from restraint by the change; lut|
having left unwillingly a happy home and idolizing rela-
tions, she met her mother almost as a stranger, and
Boon made it evident that a careful education had
formed her mind and manners in an unusual degree for
her age.
Doris's proud reserve towards her step-father during
the short time they had been together her mother easily
excused when she remembered that her daughter was
aware of his having been the cause of her banishment.
She was even prepared for some estrangement from
herself, but not for such complete alienation as she had
latterly perceived; and Doris's request to be sent back
to her uncle, and desire to be forgotten, had wounded
her mother's feelings in a peculiarly painful manner.
Accustomed to be loved, the supposition that she could
not easily acquire the affection of her daughter had
aever even been taken into consideration, and she now,
with the sensitiveness peculiar to women at her time
46 AT ODD.
of life, began to doabt tho oontinuance of her power of
pleasing, and unhesitatingly resolved not to accompany
bat to send Doris back to the home she loved so mach|,
as soon as an eligible opportunity could be found.
This resolution and the preceding recollections caused
the already tearful eyes to overflow in a burst of in-
tense but fugitive and vehemently suppressed grief,
which had scarcely subsided when, raising the lamp
from the table, and shading it carefully with her hand,
so that no ray of light might distarb the sleepers/ she
placed it behind one of the stone pillars, and turned
towards the steps, up which in complete darkness she
slowly groped her way, until she felt the freezing night-
air on her burning forehead, snow beneath her feet, and
saw a sky full of stars above her.
CHAPTBE VI.
A MAIDEN ON GUARD.
DoBis was wakened in a very unceremonious manner
at daybreak the next morning by the gardener, who
shook her shoulder while informing her that the enemy
were already up and on the move. She roused herself
with difficulty from her profound, healthful sleep, seemed
more inclined to consider the gardener her enemy than
the French just then, and looked towards the mattress
that had been arranged for her mother as if half- willing
to be refused permission to leave her place of rest.
"Oh, she's been up all night," said the old man:
*^ one sees that she's been a soldier's wife, and used to
this -sort of life, had wine ready for my son at mid-
A MAIDSM ON QUAKD. 47
nigbt^ and is making break&st for qb all now with a
lamp, as we dare not light a fire."
And at the foot of the steps Doris found her mother,
who merely looked np for a moment and nodded a
" good-morning."
Doris stopped. She was not accastomed to be treated
carelessly, and though she received demonstrations of
affection as a matter of course, and had hitherto re*
turned her mother's negligently enough, she did not
like the change, and began to consider what could be
the cause of it.
To her credit be it said, a good many reasons oc-
curred to her, and she approached her mother diffi-
dently while saying, "I hear you have been up all
night. Why did you not waken me and let me keep
you company ?"
" Because I was very glad to see you free from all
anxiety and able to sleep so soundly."
'^ There was not much to be feared, mamma, or
you would not have allowed Janet to remain at the
castle."
"Yery well reasoned, Doris, and it is too late for
anxiety now, as the French are preparing to leave us
as quickly as they can : an hour oi^two hence we may
hope to hear the unmelodious signal with the cow-horn,
that will, no doubt, be as welcome to you as to me."
" Yes," said Doris, ** I should rather like to be in my
room, and able to dress comfortably."
Her mother raised the flame of the lamp, and ap-
peared wholly occupied with her coffee-pot.
" Mamma, why did not you say ' good-night' y ester*
day evening, and why have you not wished me 'good-
morning' as as usual ?"
A bright smile passed like a gleam of sunshine over
her mother's countenance as she bent forward, and,
48 AT OOiM.
liglitlj kusing her on eftch oheek, whispered, ^ This u
* good-night/ and this * good-morning/ as nsnal, Doris."
Satisfied with this evasion of an answer that could
scarcely have been satisfactory, and relieved not to
hear reproaches she feared she had deserved, Doris
began to skip up the cellar-steps, trailing after her the
long quilt, which she gladly drew round her as a shawl
on reaching the piercingly-cold air above. It was lees
dark than when she had last stood on the same spot,
for a gleam of light was slowly spreading over the
eastern sky that began to render indistinct the expiring
watch-fires and glimmering candles still seen red and
rayless through the mist.
Silently Doris gazed on the wintry landscape, while
daylight spread dimly over it, the gardener occasionally
stopping beside her, but perceptibly prolonging his ex-
cursions towards the entrance to the vaults, from which
a strong odor of coffee began to emanate. At length,
having seated himself on the first step, whence a view
of the interior was scarcely possible, he continued to
descend in the same manner, resting when midway his
elbows on his knees, and contemplating with a wide
smile of satis&etion the preparations going on be-
neath.
Meantime the increasing light showed Doris a greater
expanse of frozen water; she began even to see parts
of the shore, some chimneys of the castle, and the
outline of a window or two, when her attention was
attracted by a loud noise from the shore, and imme-
diately afterwards she saw a number of soldiers rush
upon the ice, who began to run tumoltuously in the
direction of the Chapel-island. They were evidently in
pursuit of a young man, who, in his shirt-sleeves, with
wildly-flying hair, had the advance of a few steps, or
rather springs. He dashed forward with a reckless-
A MAIMK Oft GUABO. 49
beSB that proved his flight bad been attempted in despe-
ration, and, fortunately for him, many of the soldiers
following, getting unawares on slides industriously made
at leisui'e-hours by the village children, lost their ba-
lance, fell over each other, and, accoutred and packed
as they were for a march, with difficulty and much loss
of time only regained their feet when their assistance
was no longer required by the two who had still con-
trived successfully to follow the ftigitive. These did
not at first appear to gain upon him perceptibly ; bat|
one soldier being considerably in advance of the other,
the young man stopped suddenly, as if to recover breath.
The moment, however, his pursuer came within arm's
length, he knocked him down with a single unexpected
blow, that seemed to stun him effectually for some time.
The race that succeeded was more equal; the other
pursuer was light, youthful, and probably an officer, as
he was without a knapsack, and had during the short
time gained ground considerably. He advanced gesti-
culating, and Doris could hear his shouts and orders to
surrender as they almost together approached the water's
edge. Interest, anxiety, and a feeling of utter helpless-
ness, kept her motionless and silent, while the young
men suddenly &ced each other, one armed, the other
with even his shirt torn from his shoulders in the scuffle
that had preceded his escape. He seemed to feel his
disadvantages keenly, clenched his hands, and advanced
towards his antagonist, who was in the act of drawing
his sword from the scabbard ; before, however, he had
time to do so, he was seized round the waist and dragged
struggling forward towards the thin ice, that soon began
to crack in all directions, and almost immediately
yielded to their weight, one long loud crash accompany-
ing liie fall of both into the water, where the danger
of getting beneath the ice seemed suddenly to termi-
41) AT OPM
nate tbeir animoaiy. The adyantagd was now clearly
on the Bide of the fugitive, who, anineambered with
arms and lightly clothed, stretched oat powerfully into
the water, leaving the other to seek a place where he
coald regain footing on the sorfiice of the ice, and which
he at length found on the spot whence the^ boats had
been shoved off the previous day.
. The soldier who had first been put hwra de combat rose
slowly and came to the aid of his officer; then, after
having assisted him to mount on the ice, he raised his
musket and deliberately aimed and fired at the head of
the bold swimmer, who, to Doris's horror and dismay,
sank instantly beneath the water. She started up,
denohed her hands fiiriously towards the soldiers, who
were now returning at full speed to the castle, and,
while calling her mother and the gardener, ran down
the slope to the water's edge, where, apparently on-
tangled in the overhanging branches of a beech-tree,
she saw the drooping figure of the young man whose
desperate effort for freedom she had watched with such
intense interest. That he was not dead was evident,
for he panted, or rather gasped, loudly, apparently un-
able to make the slight exertion necessary to land.
" Are you wounded V asked Doris, compassionately.
* You shall have assistance directly.''
The swimmer raised his head, shook back the long
black hair that had concealed his features, and Doris
saw the laughing, handsome face of her cousin, Frank
O'More !
Their mutual exclamations of delight soon brought
her mother to her side, and Frank favored them alteiv
nately with his dripping caresses, as inconsiderately as
a young Newfoundland dOg, the exploits of which, in
diving and swimming, he had recently so successfully
imitated.
TH OABreAIi 0. fil
OHAPTBK VIL
THE OAPITAIi O.
Whxk Mr. FallerBberg; a few hours later, gave ih%
ttzpected signal, and walked across the ioe to reeeire tbo
boat that almost immediately left the ChapeUisland, he
was not a little surprised to perceive an additional per*
s^a in it, still more so when, on a nearer approach, it
became evident that the said personage had taken the
liberty of dressing himself in the suit of snnff-brown
doth that he was himself in the habit of reserving Ibir
Sundays and holidays ; but no sooner had the wearer
sprang on the ice than he shouted out a welcome, and
altogether declined listening to the excuses or ezplana^
ftions offered by Frank, who had not ventured to supply
himself from Count Emmeran's wardrobe, with whom
he was as yet unacquainted.
Emmeran, without waiting for an introduction, assured
him that he should be happy to share with him all that
had been so fortunately rescued from the enemy, every
thing of the kind in the castle and village having been
carried off in a perfectly unceremonious manner.
' Did I not tell you so V* cried Madame Fallersberg,
almost triumphantly turning round, -though in the midst
of a despairii^g enumeration of the mischief perpetrated
In the neighborhood. ' Did I not tell you how it would
be? and did not you laugh and jest about 'sans-cu*
lottes^ and clothes-baskets until the French were in the
very court of the castle ?"
' '' I confess with shame that this is true,'' answered
62 AS OKM*
BmmeraDy '' and I now receive my mall wardrobe as a
sort of present from yoa ; for; most assuredly, if my
'culottes' had not been sent by you to the Chapel-
island they would now be on the march to Braunau.''
^' It is astonishing/' observed Mr. Fallersberg, the
mischief these soldiers contrived to do in a quiet way
in one night, and it would have been &r worse if we had
not had time to drive out the cattle. They were
Auious when they perceived how much had been put
out of their reach : in fact, so much was concealed and
otherwise disposed of, that the greater number of ihem
had to move on. Those, however, who remained ef-
fectually plundered the village and ransacked tiie
oastle."
'I rather expected," said the countess, ''that the
officers would have quartered themselves in our apart*
ments.'^
'' Well, so they did, and made themselves quite a4
home there, too."
. ''At home V exclaimed his wife, who had only heard
the last words. " Do you call it making themselves at
home the killing of every living thing about the place?
Didn't I see one of these same officers a middle-aged
man, too, ^probably married and the father of a family
chasing the fowl about the court with a drawn sword,
while a younger one, who was more alert, beheaded the
peacocks before my very face !"
Beheaded our peacocks!" cried Hilda. "Oh, who
would think of beheading a peacock ?"
"They beheaded, plucked, and roasted them," con-
tinned Madame Pallersberg; ''and, as to the geese,.!
saw them springing headless round the fountain. It was
a horrible sight; and ^and they slaughtered our piga
and "
" Well, well," said her husband, be satisfied that no
THK OAKTlXi 0. H
Iramaii beiagt lost ikear lives. As to the gesM^ I eat
psoted nothing elssy and would ha7 sent thsm to thtt
water, if I had not feared it might have attracted atten*
tion to the lake and the Chapel-island, whieh is their
fiiTorite place of resort. I won't say that I would not
have made free with a goose myself, had it come in mjr
waj when marching through an enemy's land; so let
ns pnt all to rights, and say no more about the matter."'
* Very easy for you men to talk so/' she replied j " but
I should like to know what we are to say to the poor
women who put their beds into our cellars V
'^ There is nothing to be said. I told them they oould-
not choose a worse place/'
*^And what has happened to the beds?'' asked
Hilda.
*' They were pitched out of the bins with bayonets/'
he answered; "rents made in them; and, consequentlyi
ail the feathers were strewed on the ground, which had
been previously turned into mud by spilled beer and
wine."
*Oh, mamma P cried Hilda, "Doris was right: the-
French are dreadful men. I dare say they have killed
my rabbits and white pigeons !"
She was right. Of all the animals that four^ind-
twenty hours previously had afforded Emmeran Wal-
dering so much amusement, the dogs and tame raven
alone remained, ^the former sniffing about the damp
straw that was littered profusely in the court, the latter
gravely pensive, perched on a water-spout.
Doris was a good deal disgusted to find that thef
flagged entrance-hall and adjoining store-rooms had been
ooaverted into stables, and that careless feet had con-
veyed wisps of dirty hay far up the stone staircase.
The Waldering pedigree seemed to have given um-
teftge to some ftirious republican, for not only was the
6
M MS
g)M0 nuMhed to fttotts, hot the pnokmeat out up iritK
sword or bayonet, want of time haTing eridetttty
alone prevented the completion of its deetmction.
" We must have this thing patched up some way or
other befbre Sigmand sees it/' observed Emmerani
laughing rather irreverently.
Its restoration," replied Mr. Pallersberg, gravely,
^* shall be the occupation of my winter evenings/'
''And/' continued Emmeran, '^ while you are ahoat
Hf couldn't you just give the old fellow at the foot ct our
tree a drapery, or sheepskin, or something to make
him look less savage f"
" Dare not take such a liberty without the Director's
permission/' said Mr. Fallersberg, beginning to pick the
pieces of broken glass from the frame.
The countess, followed by Doris, Hilda, and Frank,
were in the mean time ascending the stairs to the
second story; and Emmer^n, after a moment's hesita*
tMXf followed them, entering the sitting-room nn
heeded, and looking with some curiosity round himi
and through the open door of an adjoining bedroom,
where an eager conversation had commenced with
Doris's old English maid, who had insisted on remain*
ing with the wardi^obes under her care.
After all, ma'am/' said the latter, 'we have no
reason to complain, for the general that slept here
was civil, and told me I ^ght lock the presses and
keep the keys; and the young man they called the
Edgekong spoke a little English, and asked a greal
many questions after he saw the little ivory picture.'^
* Doris's picture ? ^the miniature ?"
Yes, ma'am ] he found it on the table, beside the
harp, and asked me if Miss Doris did not sing Irish
songs, and, if we had all forgotten him, though he had
been so long at Garvagh, and would remember us a
THS OAniAI. o. W
kng M he Uv^id. It was tiie bawrd and the wbiflkeni
that had ohsuotged him, Miss Doris, but he does not hNk
so much amiss after all for a republican and a saa^
culottes,"
' Louis d'BsterreP exclaimed Doris: 'Mt is odd
enough his being here/'
^'Nothing more probable/' said Frank; ^he is, of
course, with ICoreau, who is related to him some way
Or other/'
''Then I must say, Frank, I wonder jou did not
applj to him when you were taken prisoner/'
"For what purpose? I knew he would have re*
quired my parole, and I had firmly resolved to make
my escape the first opportunity that presented itself
" Oh, I did not think of that," said Doris.
Just then her mother went to the door of the room
to speak to Mr. Pallersberg, who had come to consult
her about the wounded Austrian and French soMiers
left in the castle, to die or recover, as the case might
he. She turned back for a moment to say she was
going to visit them, and should afterwards go to the
Tillage. ' Did Doris wish to accompany her f"
'No, thank you, mamma; I know so very little Ger-
man, and shall be so perfectly useless, that I believe
it will be quite as well if I remain quietly here with
Frank."
May I go with you V asked Hilda.
Her mother held out her hand with a smile ; and no^
sooner was the door closed than, perfectly indifferent,
or rather altogether oblivious of the presence of Emme-
ran Waldering, Doris and Frank drew a couple oi arm
chairs towards the great green stove, that with its
Gothic ornaments, and niches containing statuettes of
eaints, occupied the greater part of one side of the
toom ; then placed their feet on footstools, dose to the
W Air QMM.
WMlned iSOB, Imd bMMbe absorbecl in % tomfewmihmi
tiiali eommenoed by Frank art:ing Iovm if ah* iuid
laamed at last to like her mother.
" Well, I believe I have ; certainly better than I evee
exi^ected, for yon see she ia very good and sensible, and
remarkably lady-like ; bat, though I am sure she is very
fond of me, I can see that she thinks me full of femlts;
ikkI, some way or other, I never can do or say any
thing right, ^which is discouraging, when I remember
kow differently I was judged at Grarvagh."
' We certainly did consider you altogether &ultlQ0
there," said Frank; ^and so you are, Doris, you may
take my word for it."
^ Yet mamma more than gave me to understand thafi
she considers I have been somewhat spoiled, though
she acknowledges it was hardly to be woiidered at
when one takes into consideration that I was the only
girl in the house, and had seven cousins to obey my
commands."
" Well, if we liked to obey you, I suppose there waa
no great harm done. I cannot imagine what my aunt
would wish changed, for you certainly are as near per-
ectk)n as can well be imagined."
' I am not quite sure of that, Frank ; mamma has notr
said, but she has made me feel sometimes as if I were
selfish, in short, an egotist."
" That you are not; she does not yet know how kind
Ad affectionate you can be when you like people."
Oh, she is not satisfied with that sort of goodness
which is common to all well-disposed persons, but ess
pects me to judge every one leniently, and to be kind
to people I don't care about in the least."
" Now, I must say, Doris, that is quite absurd."
" Tou would not think so, Frank, if you heard hwr
speak on the subject. I don't mean all that about thci
THK QMmAJ* O. ftV.
hmam in one's own eye, whidi 70a koir is in the Seiw
mm on the Mount, and qnite tme, of coarse; bat she
says, for instance, we skoold never condemn any on^
even when they do wrong, without considering the
measore of temptation to which they have been exm
posed, and that, in most cases, it is very difficult to Ibrm*
an opinion of the extent of culpability/'
^ It must be rather dull, talking of such things,'' 6b*
served Frank, balancing his chair on the hind legs.
No, I like it," said Doris; I like talking in thia
way well enough, but I don't like putting it into pracn
tiee. I judge of people just as I &id them : I like some,
and I hate others."
"So do I," said Prank.
For instance, I hate the French,'' continued Doris.
' And I also," he chimed in.
' And since I have been here I am beginning to hato
tiiB Germans," she added.
** No ; you must not hate them," said Frank, for I'm
a German now, or, at least, an Austrian."
^ I don't know any Austrians," said Doris; ^^ but I havo
taken an antipathy to some Bavarians."
"Not old Pallersberg, I hope?" said Frank, "for I
tldnk him a capital fellow."
And what do you think of his wife?" asked Doris.
" Well, I declare I don't know; a good Bort of woman,
rather."
' Exactly; but, because she is good in a small way to
the people about here, mamma expects me to overlook,
or not perceive, her horrible Swabian brogue and unre
fined manners."
"People in this country don't care a straw about
brogues," observed Frank; " Count Waldering and Cap-
tain Pallersberg thought it a famous thing that wo had
l^d that infernal old French governess at Qarvagh to
(is AT ODM.
iaftch Hi hr lisgo, but they oonld not ml M Bd
the advantage of my having been edneated in England,
0r your having an English maid to improve yoor accent/'
'And do yon know/' said DMri8, ^ mamma calls all:
Mieh things prejndioes 1 1 think she only observes what
not how ^people speak. Then fancy her expecting Bse
incessantly to admire the woods and lakes about here^
without considering that Uiere is not a graveled road in
the one where it is possible to ride or drivC; or a boat
on the othdr that is better than the float over the ftrry
near Garvagh I"
' I have no objection to the woods here/' said Frank ;
' they are on a grand scale, something above our plan*
tationSy you must allow."
'I should prefer a beech-tree walk or shruUMiy, sncb
as we had at Garvagh/' said Doris, thoughtfully; or
tiie long avenues, where event the bog parts were made
beautiful by flowering rhododendrons and single fir-
trees, with branches sweeping the heath. I am not so
insensible to beauty of that kind as mamma suppbses^
bnt I like grounds kept in order, and welUmowed lawns,
and a garden with glass houses, and a gardener who
knows his business ; and oh, Frank I I now have learned
to value a house such as Garvagh, so quiet and so
comfortable I I long for the carpets and curtains, and
the thousand luxuries there, and especially the library,
witb its pleasant places for reading, where one could sit
undisturbed, even with a house full of visitors."
Tes/' said Frank, thoughtftilly ; "that library is a
pleasant, cheerful room; I often think of it; but the
visitors were too numerous, Doris ; my father was tor*
ribly embarrassed in his affairs lately."
' So mamma told me yesterday/' she answered.
''And," he continued, ' and that was the chief reason
why I left home, and why we must hope that Feargva
THB OJlFITJX O. 50*
Witt 8oom be hre too. I -waaAet #hat he is about juiip
aow, Doris r*
^ Pjrobabiy comsiiig in tba bo^ or out [^looting/' 0hio
^ Oat flbooting/' be repeated| musingly; 'fnd then he
will come home and scamper np the stairs when he hea
the dressing-bell has mng, and "
^Thre is no dressing-bell here/' interposed Doris;
^' no one ever thinks of dressing for dinner here as we
used to do, excepting, perhaps, when there is company;
but I believe no one ever^comes here ;. I do not imagine
we have any n^ghbors at all, for the people in the town
are nobodies/'
"Doris, can you fancy you see the drawing-room as
they come into it one after the other 1"
" Ohy yes," she answered, her face lighting up at the
veeollee^on ; " I think I see my aunt sitting on one of the
b&Bab beside the fireplace, my uncle standing before the
fire, and Henry, and John, and (George, and Feargus,
and most probably some of the Lavilles, and Lady-
Mary Sullivan, and the dear old Conroys. Frank, I
count the days now until I can return to Grarvagh : had
my ste^ther lived, there would have been no chance
fl^ me; but sow mamma has promised to return as soon
as we haTe peace, or even a truce/'
'^Promised to return to Ireland T he exdaimed; Ha
Gwrvagh?"
^ Yes; but Ae talks of it as a sacrifice made to me, a
wonderful effort of affection, which I cannot, I confess,
appreciate very highly/'
TheiiB you are wrongs Doris, for it is and most be
an eSoitii on her part, though you do not understand
why, because you have been kept in ignHrance of tho
events that preceded her expatriation, or emigration,
vvkiebever you choose to call it. She did not leave
^M AS OUM. /
fenragh wiilingly, but will undoubtedly return there
moBt unwillingly, and I will tell you the reason/' Here
he lowered hie voice to a sort of emphatic whisper, and,
with the fluency of speech peculiar to his country, told
Doris the moumfiil story of her mother's first mar-
riage.
Emmeran, who did not understand a word of Eng-
lish, had nevertheless found watching the speakers
snfleiently interesting to induce him to remain a silent
and motionless observer near one of the windows ; and
when Doris began to listen with evident painfully in
tense interest to her cousin's eloquent recital of events
that had occurred before her birth, bat yet so neariy
concerning her, he taxed his imagination to the utmost
in surmises respecting the subject of discourse.
*' Frank, I onght to have heard this sooner," she ob-
served, reproachfaliy, when he had concluded and seemed
to expect her to speak. Had you told me this before
we came here, I should have felt and acted quite differ-
ently towards my mother, whose only fanlt seems to
me now the having forgiven my father his altogether
unpardonable crime !"
Oh, come, Doris, don't take the matter so very seri-
ously; all stratagems are fair in love and war, you
know, and there was not a shadow of a hope for your
fikther excepting in this desperate expedient; for I have
heard that my aunt had a score of adorers, and more
offers of wedding-rings than she had fingers on her hands
to place them on."
No excuse," said Doris, shaking her head.
' Don't say so, dear, for if we had remained at Gar-
vagh, and you had ever thought of marrying Henry, I
won't answer for myself that I "
"Frank I"
Well, there is no use in talking abot such things*
THS OXPrtAJj o. 61
my aunt was not the first in our ikmily whose maRMge
was compulsory.
^ I hope she may be the last/' said Doris, grayely*
So do I, for it must be a damned disagreeable-''
" Now, Prank," cried Doris, imjmtiently, I have told
you several times that people here don't swear; it is
very wrong, and very unpleasant to hear."
** Yes, dear, you certainly have reminded me often
enough that people here don't swear in drawing-rooms;
that people here don't drink after dinner, as in Ireland,
and so on ; all very praiseworthy and proper, no doubt;
bat for a person who professes to be disgusted with
every thing German, as you do, I don't see why the
devil "
Frank I"
Well, why the deuce "
^* That means just the same thing."
'^ Speak plainly, Doris, and confess that you have the
old prejudice against every thing Irish.''
No, Frank, quite the contrary; but it is only since I
came abroad that I have learned to appreciate Ireland
as I ought."
" Precisely wh at has happened to me," said Frank. " I
no longer wish to be taken for an Englishman, and have
written to Henry to beg he will never again think of
leaving off tlTe ' O' before his name : we ougbt to value
it as the French do their de^ and the Germans their
^von/ in short, as a proof that we are descended
from "
" From decent people,' " interposed Doris, langhing :
unfortunately, however, no one knows any thing about
that here."
^ But most people, I suppose, know that (X is a pecu*
liar prefix to Irish names ?"
'' Perhaps they do, perhaps not," she aaaweved. ^'I
Ua AT ODDS.
remember the time I shoold have preferred a name
withoat an ' 0/ an English name of three or four sylla-
bles, and it is only very, very lately that I have learned
to like being an Irishwoman/'
*' And I/' said Frank, to boast of being an Irish
man, and to valne our O' as a sort of stamp of my
oonntry ; for, as the rhyme says,
'By Mao and O
You'll surely know
True Irishmen alway ;
But if they lack
Both O and Mac,
No Irishmen are th^ 1' "
OHAPTBB Vni.
NBUTBAL QBOVHD,
Bmmeran Waldebing had left the room nnperceived,
and the short winter day was drawing to a close before
Frank and Doris began to feel hungry and to wonder
when dinner would be ready.
" We most not be impatient to-day," observed Doris,
'^ for most probably there is no sort of provision in the
house, and we shall have to wait until a messenger can
procure supplies from the town."
'If," suggested Frank, 'if our enemies have not
created a famine there also. But suppose we go and
inquire about the wounded; there may be some Aus-
trians among them, and as I suspect my aunt is one of
those women who will make no sort of difference be*
tween a wounded friend or foe, we had better under-
NtJTRAL GROUND. 68
take to look after our own people,-^hat iS; the Ana
trianSp you know."
In the mean time Doris's mother had gone to the
village, and with dismay seen the devastation caused
there by foar-and-twenty hours' campaigning: horses
had been seized and carried off, all the cattle that had
voluntarily returned in the evening to their homesteads
had been slaughtered, every kind of provision consumed|
and an incalculable quantity wantonly destroyed; while
the houses were crowded with soldiers whose wounds
had been sufficiently slight to enable them to continue
the march from Hohenlinden, but who now lay pros-
trated by fever brought on by fatigue and inclement
weather.
The villagers were wonderfully resigned : they seemed
to feel the uselessness of complaints, were even thankfhl
for what had been retrieved and that no one had been
made houseless^ and they set about putting their dwell-
ings into order without delay. The want of bread had
been severely felt until Mr. Pallersberg produced the
flour he had concealed in the island; and when It be-
came evident that the inhabitants of the castle were in
no respect better off than the poorest among them for
the time-being, the people ceased altogether to murmur,
and were as attentive as circumstances permitted to the
unfortunate invalids left to their care.
Doris met her mother returning home: she looked
fatigued and dejected, and, without speaking, gave her
daughter a note that had been left for her at the village
inn. It was from Mr. d'Bsterre, requesting her good
offices for a friend and comrade compelled by dangerous
wounds to remain at Westenried.
"Cannot we have this poor man brought to the
eastle, mamma? it would be so much more conve-
nient."
64 AT ODDS.
He cannot be moved, Doria : he is dying/'
"You have seen him?"
* Yes, and promised to return, as no one can under-
stand or speak to him/'
''Have yon any objection to my going on to the
inn?''
''None whatever; but this young officer is fright-
ftally wounded in his face^ Doris, and I do not know
whether or not you can bear seeing any thing of that
kind."
Doris looked alarmed.
"You had better not go/' continued her mother;
"his jaw is completely shattered, and the wound of so
dangerous a nature that he made extraordinary efforts
to reach the next town in order to put himself under
the care of a surgeon ; but at last he found it impos-
sible any longer to bear the motion of a carriage,
and remained here, most probably to die a few hours
hence/'
"We can send for the surgeon, can we not?" asked
Doris.
"I doubt his being able to come, for there are, of
course, more wounded leil in tbe town than here : how-
ever, your friend Mr. d'Esterre said he would endeavor
to send some one, and got the address of a surgeon
from the innkeeper."
" K I thought I could be of any use " began Doris.
" I believe," suggested her mother, " this unfortunate
young man would be thankful for a look of sympathy
if accompanied by a few words spoken in his native
language, giving him tbe assurance that he was not
altogether friendless/'
" Then I will go" said Doris, resolutely.
"Do so, dear girl, and you may depend on my coming
to release you as soon as I possibly can/'
MSTJTEAIi OaOUND. 66
But wben her mother joined her an hour afterwards
she found Doris by no means so useless as she had sup-
posed. The surgeon had arrived, but immediately pro-
nounced the case utterly hopeless, and without a
moment's hesitation both mother and daughter resolved
to remain with the young foreigner during the night
that proved the last of his life. His death, which took
place soon after daybreak, was the first that Doris had
ever witnessed, and made a deep and painful impres
sion. As she gazed shudderingly on the corpse, more
disfigured with wounds than even Count Waldering's
had been, she exclaimed, ^Oh, mamma, war is much
more dreadful in reality than any one can at all
imagine from description V'
Her mother assented, and seemed inclined to hurry
her departure from a scene that now agitated her to
no purpose.
I did not think it possible," continued Doris, look*
ing back into the room with tearful eyes, "I did not
think it possible that I could feel so much commisera-
tion for a stranger and a foreigner, especially a French-
man; but it was terribly afflicting to see this poor
young man die in such torture, far away from all his
friends and relations."
'*And his fate is that of thousands, Doris."
" Then I trust we shall soon have peace, mamma, on
any terms; for, indeed, it would be better to give the
French every thing they desire than continue sacri-
ficing life in this way."
" Unfortunately," replied her mother, " the more this
French Consul gets the more he requires, so that while
he lives I am inclined to think no peace will be of
'ong continuance. Bat now, Doris, we must return to
t6e castle, where there are so many invalids that it
almost deserves the name of hospital. I fear, howeveri
M AT OD08.
what 7011 have seen this night will make 70a imwilEiig
to enter a sick-room again for aome time/'
^N0| mamma; I will go where 70a go, and at least
tr7 to be useful."
'^ Where the sacrifice of time and personal comfort
is chiefl7 required, Doris^ people in our position can
alwa7B9 if the7 wish it, find opportunities of being use-
fU: at all events, 70U have convinced me during the
past night that 70U would not require a long novitiate
to fit 70U for the order of the Sisters of Charit7/'
Do 7on indeed think so, mamma?'' asked Dons,
exeeedingl7 pleased at the unexpected praise : '^ then I
will assist 70U and Madame Pallersberg to take care of
the wounded soldiers now at the castle."
"More than the half of them are French^'Doris."
^Yes, mamma; but I now understand what 70tt
said about hospital-wards being completel7 neutral
ground/'
CHAPTER IX.
THE FAMILY GOMPAO^T.
SoMB months subsequent to the events related in the
fore^ing chapters the peace of Luneville was concluded
between the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and
the then Emperor o^ German7. An inauspicious peace,
in which, resigning the territorjr on the left bank of the
Bhine, and leaving the so-despoiled princes to seek
indemnification amoug themselves, a disunion- was
caused that finall7 led to the dissolution of the German
Empire. Emissaries were sent to Paris to remonstrate
or protest against the spoliation, and Napoleon seized
THE FAMILY tX)MPAOT. 8T
the opportoBity of making jndicioiis conceosioiiB im
order to turn some of his bitterest enemies into Mends
nd allies. It was on this occasion that the first sepa-
rate treaty of peace was made between Bavaria and
France, and consequently the political opinions of
Ckmnt Sigmnnd Waldering, when he returned to West-
enried in the autumn of the following year, were very
different from those entertained by him immediately
after the battle of Hohenlinden. He came this time to
accept and thank the Countess Waldering for the pro-
posal lately made by her to remain in Bavaria and
await his convenience for the liquidation of her claims
on the estate; he had also to inform her that the oppor-
tunity she desired for the return of her daughter to
Ireland had been found, as a family with whom she
could travel in perfect security would pass through
Munich in the course of the ensuing week.
^' Thank you. I am, however, happy to say my
daughter's wish to remain with me has induced her to
give up all idea of returning to Ireland for the pre*
sent.''
** Then I presume it is year intention to reside chiefly
in Munich V
"By no means. I may go there occasionally, on
account of Hilda ; but Doris already possesses most of
the accomplishments which would have made a resi-
dence in a to^vn desirable for their acquirement.''
' Eiiowing that you consult her wishes on most occa?
fiions," he observed, smiling a little ironically, '^ I may,
I suppose, take it for granted that she is quite satisfied
with this arrangement ?"
'^ Perfectly. She is becoming attached to me and her
sister, and beginning to feel at home here. Mr. Pallers-
berg is giving her lessons in German ; she accompanies
nim on the harp or piano-forte when he wishes to play
M AT ODDS.
the Tiolin ; and then ahe rides, and is fond of boating
and gardening, and all sorts of country occupations/'
''For a year or two this may answer; but after-
wards V he asked.
" In times like these it is better not to make plans
for the future/' she answered. ^ I am satisfied that my
daughter not only voluntarily proposed remaining here,
but was more shocked at the idea of a separation than
I had at all expected."
At this moment the sound of a harp from the adjoin-
ing room so completely attracted his attention that he
remained perfectly silent for some time, listening in
astonishment to music that might have been supposed
to proceed from the dexterous fingers of a first-rate
artist.
This instrument ^then so much esteemed in Ireland
^had been preferred to all others by Doris, and even
as a. child she had played with a strength and skill
that had given her a sort of celebrity. At fifteen, she
might have competed with most public performers;
and if her mother at times felt inclined to regret the
many hours that must have been daily devoted to the
acquisition of this accomplishment, she certainly found
it difficult, if not impossible, to do so on occasions liko
the present.
During the first pause Sigmund rose, opened the
door of communication, and poured forth a flood of
eulogium, mixed with professions of surprise and admi-
ration, that were heard by the youthful performer with
a composure verging so manifestly on indifference that
he stopped short in the midst of a request that his ^' fair
cousin'' would continue to delight him with her en-
chanting national music.
"National music!" repeated Doris; ** would you not
rather hear the Austrian 'God preserve the Emperor 'f
THX FAMXLT OOMPAOT. 09
cr no: ike 'Marseillaise' will suit you better now.**
And with a mischievous energy, that might hare been
mistaken for enthusiasm by a French auditor, she made
the room ring with the ill-fiimed melody.
Had Doris looked a whit less pretty and graceful
while enacting this piece of saucy censure, Sigmnnd,
though a complete man of the world, might have in
some way shown his displeasure; but war of any kind
with pretty faces was not his habit: so he observed,
good-humoredly, ' I never expected to hear the ^Mar
sdllaise' with pleasure, but you have convinced me that
it is very inspiriting/'
" So much the better," said Doris; " for you will soon
have to march to it"
^ Not so, mademoiselle ; peace is signed with Napoleon,
and I am most willing to arrange the preliminaries of
something similar with you."
Doris shook her head very resolutely, and scarcely
seemed to touch the strings of the harp while producing
a succession of sweeping minor chords.
**I am sorry," began Sigmund, "very sorry, that I
alarmed you so unnecessarily about your cousin the first
time we met;" and then added, on perceiving that his
regrets obtained little credence, The bearer of ill
news seldom makes a favorable impression, and I fear
I shall require long to efface that evening from your
memory."
_ "Just exactly as long as I live I" replied Doris.
" You are not serious ?"
Perfectly."
'*Am I to consider this a declaration of hatred?" he
asked, smiling.
** Consider it what you please," she answered, care-
lessly, while beginning to cover her harp with its brown
leather case.
70 AT ODDS.
"I shall make you forget, or at least forgive, this
offence before long/' he said, following her as she walked
across the room towards the 80& where her mother was
seated.
"I hope you may," she answered, quietly; "for it is
much pleasanter likiqg than disliking people one cannot
altogether avoid seeing.''
His answer to this speech was a perfectly hearty
laugh, BO thoroughly was he amused at the complete
and unexpected sang-froid of the young foreigner. He
had been surprised that she had not blushed at least
a little when he had approached her, still more so that
she had evinced no embarrassment at his warmly-ex-
pressed admiration of her musical talents, accompanied
by looks which he had intended should convey the idea
even to her youthful mind that he admired herself quite
as much as her music ; but he had yet to learn that
Doris was so accustomed to the society of men, and
considered their attentions so much a matter of course,
that she attached no sort of importance to words or
looks that would have put a German girl of the same
age into a flutter of embarrassment and agitation.
The person who best understood the little scene just
enacted was Doris's mother, and she was more amused
than surprised to see her daughter retire to the most
distant window and become completely engrossed in
torturing a piece of muslin in the then most fashionable
manner.
Sigmund turned to Hilda, and hoped she would explain
to her sister that he was not often so impatient and
unamiable as on the unlucky evening they had first met.
" I have told her so," she replied, " but she will not
believe me: she says you are proud and heartless."
"Well," he said, with affected earnestness^"! must
hope that time will enable me to prove the contrary;
THS FAMUiT COMPACT. 71
for it would be very unpleasant if she were not to learn
to like me before I become her brother-in-law."
This allusion to his marriage with Hilda was heara
by the very youthful fiancee with childish indifference.
No efforts on the part of her mother had been able to
prevent Count Waldering, during his lifetime, from
speaking openly and frequently of his family compact,
nor had Sigmund himself thought it necessary to use
any reserve on the subject either during the infancy of
his cousin or now, after having assured his aunt, in a
formal 'letter, that he was willing, when Hilda had
attained her sixteenth year, to fulfill the engagement
made with his imcle concerning their marriage.
The countess looked up hastily, and drew Hilda
towards her, while she observed, " I hoped to have had
an opportunity of speaking to you alone concerning
your last letter, Sigmund; for I believe it would be
better both for you and Hilda if this engagement were
cancelled. Four years hence you may wish for free-
dom : Hilda is now scarcely twelve years old, and at
that age cannot possibly decide on so important a
project."
No one knows the exact value of things or persons
until the chance of their loss has become possible or
probable. Sigmund Waldering had first felt well dis-
posed towards Hilda, because she had not been of a sex.
to deprive him of A inheritance he had almost learned
to consider his by right, and, secondly, because she was
an extremely pretty and engaging child; nevertheless,
a year previously, on finding himself actually heir-appa-
rent, he had risen so much in his own estimation that
necessity more than inclination had induced him to con-
tinue and latterly to renew his engagement. The dis-
position on the part of his aunt to release him had the
immediate effect of fuUy convincing him of the advan-
72 AT ODM.
tages of a union with JEildai and he therefore hastened
to answer,
^1 cannot agree with yon, my dear aunt; for, besides
being in a manner bound by a solemn promise to my
late uncle, I really have become so accustomed to this
engagement that I cannot feel free unless made so by
Hilda herself."
" A few years hence " began his aunt.
^^No" he said, turning to Hilda; ^ child as she is,
she can decide, at least, as to the continuance of our
engagement. Tell me, Hilda, will you not be my
fiancee?"
"I thought I must be," she answered, smiling; " but
indeed, mamma, I have no objection to be engaged to
Sigmund, though I don't at all wish to marry him."
You see," said her mother, ^' it is absolutely absurd
your talking to her in this way at present."
'' By no means," replied Sigmund, laughing; ^' I think
we are in a fair way to understand each other. Now,
come here, Hilda; you have no objection,*-^that is, you
rather like being engaged 7 Is it not so 7"
"Yes."
"And who made you like it, dearP'
" Grandmamma and Mina Fallersberg."
" Probably when you were in Munich the year before
last?"
'Yes; grandmamma said it was a great advantage
my not having to lose my name, and that all I should
inherit from my atmt in TJlm would remain in the
family; and Mina said " She paused.
"What did Mina say?"
" That she could imagine nothing more delightftil than
being engaged, -especially to you."
" Indeed 1" and Sigmund colored very perceptibfy,
perhaps in the consciousness of having taken som^ pains
THE IAMIIjT oompact. T8
to gMn the heart of his grandmother's jouihM protegie
and companion.
' Doris thinks quite the contrary," continued Hilda.
** So your sister gave her opinion also f I am curious
to hear it." .
*She does not at all wish to he engaged," replied
Hilda, '' especially not to you, for she thin^ you quite
odious."
Sigmund laughed. ^'This/' he said, 'is a case of
strong prejudice, which, however, I do not despair of
being able to overcome. We only require time to be-
come better acquainted. And now," he added, turning
to his aunt, ' may I hope for your permission to ride
with Hilda and her sister while I remain here V
^^ Of course; but, remember, Hilda must not attempt,
to leap fences, or race in the meadows with Doris."
^ I did not imagine that young ladies ever thought of
such things,^' he observed, glancing towards the window
where Doris was sitting.
' I don't suppose they do here," said Doris, because
your horses can seldom be induced to take a leap."
^ You must allow me to prove the contrary," he said^
rising.
' By all means. Let us try the broad drains in the
marsh-meadow to-day, now?"
Sigmund left the room, accompanied by Hilda, jump-
ing joyously, and Doris was following, when her mother
called her back.
- ** Doris, your sister is not to go into the meadow with
you." .
"No, mamma."
"And ^and do not speak to her any more about
this engagement to Sigmund; the less she is reminded
of it, the better."
' Yes, igamma ; I suppose you fear I might prejudice
r
74 AT ODDS.
her against him ; but, I assure yoU; I don't intend to
hate or like people until I know them, in fhture. Tea
shall see me put into practice all you have said on that
subject."
"And yet," said her mother, smiling, ^*it is scarcely-
half an hoar since you told Sigmund pretty plainly that
you disliked him I"
''Yes, mamma; that slipped out some way or other;
because, you see, be certainly did make a most unplea-
sant impression on me that first time I saw him; and
even when he was just now laughing and speaking so
gently to Hilda, I could perfectly recall his scowl, and
harsh, rude manner, while answering so very unkindly
my inquiries about Prank."
''At that time, Doris, he thought you the cause of my
resolution to return to Ireland, which would have in-
convenienced him greatly ; and to-day, when he made
a sort of effort to conciliate you, he had heard from me
that you had consented to remain here, ^an arrange-
ment that he naturally supposes calculated to make me
less than ever likely to press the refunding of my for-
tune; and I believe this impression will be the cause of
most of his attentions to you in future."
"Now, mamma, just teU me one thing: you do not
like him, do you V
"I scarcely know him, Doris."
" Then why did you not insist on breaking off this
engagement ?"
' Because Hilda's father wished it, and made the
promise to Sigmund years ago."
"And so poor dear Hilda must marry him f"
" Not for some years, at all events."
"And if she then tell him that she hates himf"
" She is not likely to have any cause for hatred, Doris,
THI I'AMIXiT COMPACT. 75.
though it ifi very probable Bho may not be greatly
attached to him/'
** But in that case, mamma, you will not allow her to
marry him f "
'^ I shall let her ^o preeieely what she pleases; her
father's promise to Sigmund will prevent me from inter-
fering."
^* Well; mamma, I at least will remain with you, for
I have resolved never to be what is called ' in love' with
any one."
** A very wise resolution, Doris, and I should like you,
half a dozen years hence, to give me the assurance that
you have kept it."
'* You, of course, mamma, hate all men."
"No, my dear; why should I ?"
'' That dreadful marriage with my father."
'* Don't you think you'had better put on your habit,
Doris?"
''Yes, mamma, directly; only one, word, you must
allow that if my father was lawless and violent, Hilda's
was vindictive and selfish. It was quite horrible his
making you send me away, and hating me so unreason-
ably."
" He endeavored to like you when you returned to
me, Doris, and who then hated unreasonably f "
Mamma, I never could have liked him."
' You said the same of me, Doris, a year ago, and
now?"
"And now I love you better than any one in the
world, and will never leave you again."
" Until you find spme one you like as well, or per-
naps a little better," suggested her mother.
" Mamma, I hope you have some reliance on me, and
do not think such a thing possible ?"
" Possible, probable, desirable, even, some years hence.
76 AT OBM.
And now don't talk any more about what yon do not
understand, and, above all things, learn never to keep
people waiting for you."
" No one objected to wait for me at Garvagh."
'^ Perhaps not; but yon are not again likely to have
seven humble servants, under the name of cousins/'
'' Sigmund calls himself one, and I shall put him to
the proof, if you have no objection, mamma ?"
'None whatever; he is not likely to allow you to be
troublesome."
This permission gave infinite satisfaction to Doris,
and she tried the patience of her German cousin, and
future brother-in-law, in every possible way. Strange
to say, her wilfulness amused him; and, while on all
occasions requiring the most absolute obedience from
Hilda, he yielded, without an attempt at resistance, to
a tyranny that openly defied his power of endurance.
CHAPTER X.
SPARRINQ.
Thbeb years passed over in quiet monotony, only
interrupted by a few months spent in Munich for
educational purposes, and the same in Innsbruok,
while re-letting some houses there that had been pur-
chased by Doris's father and were now the property
of her mother.
The Director regularly passed six weeks every sum-
mer at Westenried, while Sigmund and Emmeran paid
flying visits at all seasons, and found themselves from
year to year more at home with their aunt and cousins.
SJPABBING. 77
In the autumn of 1804^ the whole family assemble
to celebrate Hilda's sixteenth birthday. Cousins-ger-
man and Grerman consins learned to live together in
perfect amity, and nothing disturbed the serenity of
their intercourse until Frank O'More rode one after-
noon into the court, and informed his aunt that he had
come to spend a few weeks at Westenried, as he began
to fear a longer absence might cause him to be forgotten
altogether.
During the first ten days Frank and Doris seemed
chiefly to live for each other, walking, talking, riding,
and boating, as much as possiblei apart from the rest
of the family, and, when chance gave them companions^
apparently unconscious of their presence. They spoke
frequently in a language which, though ostensibly
English, was nearly unintelligible to their hearers,
using expressions not only familiar to their family, but
even in their neighborhood in Ireland. Is there, how*
ever, a large and united family who have not their own
peculiar language, composed of children's words, re-
marks of grandfathers and grandmothers, old servants,
and favorite peasants, containing a world of meaning, or
producing a crowd of recollections to the initiated f
The vocabulary of such languages is far more copious
in Ireland than elsewhere, and was, in days of yore,
more so than now, from the then habitually extensive
hospitality, which brought the young people of wide-
extending neighborhoods into constant communication.
When, therefore, we mention that sobriquets were usual
among our branch of the O'Mores, and then add to
them the various Irish names of persons and places,
Sigmund may be excused, notwithstanding his know-^
ledge of English, for supposing that Doris and her
cousin occasionally fell insensibly into what he imagined
their native language, namely, Irish, and was surprised
78 AT ODDS.
to find that the impression made on his ear so mach
resembled English; as far as hissing and chirping
went.
The Director^ who was accastomed to find Doris
willing to receive instruction in German, and ever
anxious to read the new works of Goethe and Schiller^
began openly to accuse her of idleness and indifference
to his favorite authors; her laughing excuse that the
books were not 'on leave/' and could be read when
dear Frank was gone, in no way satisfying him.
Emmeran also, on perceiving that Doris would neither
endeavor to convert him from his admiration of Napo-
leon, nor speculate with him on the inhabitants of other
worlds, felt his vacation seriously curtailed of its usual
amusement; and Sigmund became gloomy and discon-
tented, in a manner that his father could only account
for when Hilda's reserve yielded to Frank's cordial
fkmiliarity, and she became as unconstrained as Doris
herself in her intercourse with him.
This monopolizing of both maidens on the part of
Frank began at length to give umbrage, and the Di-
rector informed Hilda that he feared Sigmund would
be seriously offended if she treated him any longer with
such marked neglect.
" "Why cannot he amuse himself with Mina Pallers-
berg as he used to do V* was the careless answer. ^ I
never was the least offended at bis neglect, though it has
been marked enough this long time. Mina says I have
no right to expect his exclusive attention, or he mine,
until we have been solemnly affianced."
"Unfortunately," observed the Director, "youp
mother wishes to postpone your betrothal for some
time longer, but, if you prefer it now, I am sure Sig-
mund will be the last person to object."
Don't be too sure of that," cried Hilda, laughing.
SPASRINO. 79
^^ I have a great mind to let yon ask him, jast to hear
what he will say."
"Nothing more easy," he replied, looking towards
the open door of an adjoining room. " Sigmund," he
said, slightly raising his Toice, ^^ Sigmund, answer for
yourself."
" I have no wish in any way to control Hilda," said
Sigmand, coming slowly forward; ^'we are, as she
justly ohserves, not yet affianced, and if she prefer this
young Irish adventurer to me, I helieve there is no
reason why she should not indulge the fancy; that is,
supposing O'More willing for her sake to resign his
cousin Doris."
"There, uncle," cried Hilda, extremely piqued, and
too unversed in the ways of the world to attempt any
concealment of her feelings, " you see how he speaks to
me. I am sure," she continued, with a vain effort to
repress the tears that already stood trembling in her
eyelids, '^I am sure had my father lived he would
never have compelled me to fulfil this this hate-
fed engagement."
"You shall never be compelled by me" began
Sigmund, resentfully, while his father, much amazed at
the apparent wish for release on both sides, hastened to
interfere.
'Come, come, Hilda, this will never do," he said, half
reproachfully ; " you have lately put Sigmund's patience
to a trial that were I a young man I should have ill
borne, I can tell you. There seems to me, however, to
be jealousy on both sides, and where there is jealousy
there is love."
Hilda, who in her heart considered herself bound to
fulfil the engagement made by her father, blushed
deeply, and murmured some words indicative of a
disposition to listen to any excuses or explanations
80 AT OHM*
that might bo ofliBred; Sigmand, however, walked to
one of the windows in snllen silence.
' I think, Hilda,'' began the Director, after a pause,
'^yoa had better make some slight apology to'Sigmand,
not only for your late neglect of him, but also for the
strong expression used when speaking of your engage-
ment/'
**I cannot do more than say that I should never
have had an idea of not fulfilling my engagement if
he had not shown himself so ready to break it off."
' I thought/' said her uncle, smiling, ^ you accused
him of paying too much attention to Mina Pallera-
berg?"
' Oh, I don't mind his paying attention to her" she
answered, looking up; ^ that's of no consequence ; but I
donH choose him to forbid my liking Frank, when, as
Mina says, he is himself quite downrightly in love
with Doris."
Father and son looked at each other, and both oo*
lored deeply.
The Director walked up and down the room for
some time in silence, then seating himself beside his
niece observed, " It was very wrong of Mina to put
such ideas into your head, my dear child, and I am
sure on matnrer consideration you will perceive that
her suspicions are utterly without foundation."
^I don't think I shall," she answered, apparently
more amused than angry; ''Sigmund said yesterday
that Doris was a perfect Saint Cecilia when playing
the harp."
Well," answered her uncle, " I think so too, a saint
at least, almost an angel; yet I hope you won't think
me for this reason ' quite downrightly in love.' "
Hilda laughed. 'No, I don't, but Mina does."
' Indeed. It seems that Mina, to say the least, is a
sMBmnro. 81
vmy injadicioiiB friend, and not very Bafe oompanion
for yon. I really should like to know where she haa
acquired bo mnch knowledge of suoh matters T'
''In Mnnich, -with grandmamma, bat chiefly from
Kgmnnd; he has told her all sorts of things, and Bhe
has told me a good many/'
It wonld be difficult to describe the expression of
Sigmnnd's face as he strode towards his cousin, and
laying his hand heavily on her arm muttered, '' What
has she told you V
What you told her, I suppose; at all events enough
to make my boating and riding with dear cousin Frank
very excusable, even if you should not quite like it.
Now, you see, Sigmund, I don't mind your paying
attention to Mina; for, as she says herself, it is only
because she is a couple of years older than I am, and
after all means nothing serious; but with Doris the
case is different; Mina says you are making yourself
ridiculous, for she knows, and so do I, that Doris
would reject you without a moment's consideration/'
And is that all you fear ?"
'' That is all, I assure you ; she does not care in the
least for attentions from you or any one; she says that
being romantic and filing in love is absurd, so she has
resolved never to marry, and when she is old enough
intends to make a will and leave every thing she pos-
sesses to Frank 1"
' Oh, indeed ! What a pity she happens to be half
a dozen years younger than be is I ^not to mention his
chances of receiving some ounces of lead, either in his
head or heart, before the time comes for entering into
possession of this inheritance !"
' There is no help for that, poor fellow, as he cannot
leave the army at pleasure, as you intend to do, thkigh
I do not think he would if he could."
82 AT OWM.
*'8o muoh the better, as he is just fit for what he isi
and nothing else/'
''If yon mean a perfectly intrepid cavalry officer/'
began Hilda, eagerly, a beautiful rider a a "
'I mean an Iriidi soldier of fortune, with all the
&ults of his nation."
^ And the good qualities also," interposed Hilda.
' Well, perhaps so, but even they verge on faults, if
not vices; he is good-natured enough to be easily led
into folly; generous when he has nothing to give;
gentlemanlike in his habits, which tempts him to ex-
travagance; courageous so that he is feared as a duel-
ist "
" You had better not go on, Sigmund," she exclaimed,
angrily, or I shall be obliged to think you envious as
well as jealous."
''And," asked their grandmother, who just then
entered the room, ''and of whom can Sigmund be
either?"
' Certainly not of the person in question," he an-
swered, haughtily, while he bent his head with real or
affected deference over the hand of the old lady and
led her to an arm-chair.
" Hilda, my treasure, what is the matter ? who has
vexed you ?"
"They have been quarreling, mother," said the
Director; "but lovers' quarrels are said to be the
renewal of love, land as jealousy was the cause on both
sides, I am now convinced they are more attached to
each other than we ever ventured to expect."
"I don't think I was jealous," said Hilda, playing
with the long thick carls of her dark hair as they
rested on the table beside her; "in fact I am sure I
was not"
" "Not was I," said Sigmund, " and you must not for
THK SHOOK. 88
a moment suppose that my ftther's reprimand was at
my instigation."
*'Then it seems we have been qnaireling for no-
thing," cried Hilda, langhing, and extending her hand,
which he husily approached, raised carelessly to his
lips, and then, withont speaking another word, slowly
sauntered out of the room.
' In my youth,*' said the old lady, shaking her head,
and with it the perfectly fashionable bat indescribable
half-tnrban, half-cap, that surmounted her slightly pow
dered gray hair, " in my youth, young men were differ^
ent. Your grandfather, Hilda, would have kneeled at
my feet and lingered at my side after a reconciliation ;
but those good old times will never return; men have
lost all sentiment, and are becoming firom day to day
mre prosaic I"
CHAPTER XI.
THE SHOOK.
Siomund's sauntering step became a quick walk as he
crossed the court and passed under the archway, and on
the bridge his foot fell so heavily that it attracted tho
attention of Mina Pallersberg, and induced her to open
and look out of the window of the room in her mother's
apartments, which she always occupied when at Westen-
ried. This was probably what Sigmund intended; for
he turned round, raised his hat, waved it before him,
and then, returning to the court, entered the garden,
and walked through it and the orchard to the boat-
house, where, folding his arms, he stood beside the
84 AT ODDS.
eniranoe and awaited the arrival of the figure in white
that he expected would soon reach the same plaee hj a
more circuitous route. He did not raise his eyes as
Mina approached^ but when she stood beside him and
looked anxiously in his &ce, he asked, abruptly, ' What
have you said to Hilda V
"To Hilda r
" Tes : she informs me you have told her all sorts of
things about me, and others I"
*^ Dear Sigmund, I was afraid she might have observed
or suspected something, and so I "
" You thought it necessary to lead her jealous thoughts
into another channel V
She was not jealous, Sigmund, -could not be; for
she does not care more for you than you do for her."
*^ I tell you she does, and not half an hour ago renewed *
her engagement with me, when I gave her an oppor-
tunity of making herself free if she had desired it."
" And you have renewed it V*
" After a manner, yes, ^it was unavoidable."
" And without thinking of me ? Oh, Sigmund V
" It was no betrothal, we are just where we were
yesterday; but you deserve this, and more, Mina, for
having brought Doris's name in question. Of her, Hilda
mi^t be jealous; of you, never."
'^ Not even when you fulfill your promise to me, Sig-
mund?"
** I tell you, never," he repeated.
"I believe you are right," she said, coloring deeply.
"Hilda will never be jealous of either of us. With
her beauty, rank, and fortune, she will easUy find some
one else that she can like as wdl, or better, than she
does you; besides which, I do not think her capable of
a strong attachment to any one."
THB SHOOK. 86
" Then why did you try to persnade me she liked Frank
O'Mope?"
** She likes his attentions, and told me repeatedly that
he was the dearest, handsomest creature she had ever
seen in her life ! Yanity and love of admiration make
her wish to attract iiim."
" He is her cousin/' began Sigmund.
" So are you/' she interposed, quickly.
^'Yes; and I think her as much attached to me as
she can be to any one/' said Sigmund, decidedly, and
he believed this, for men are wonderfully tenacious on
such subjects; "not," he added, cynically, "not attached
as you are, Mina, for interest and affection in your case
go hand in hand."
" Sigmund, how can you be so cruel I" she cried, clasp*
ing her hands.
" And how," he retorted, angrily, " how could you
dare to say that I loved Doris?"
" Because you do, ^I know you do," she cried, paa-
fiionately. "I have no fear of Hilda, even with the
prospect of a betrothal; but Doris has fascinated you
and all at Westenried, ^my father, mother, the Director
himself."
" So you informed Hilda, it seems ; but the idea of the
Director's being captivated is merely diverting."
No, no, no/' cried Mina : " it is dreadful."
" I tell you it is diverting," he replied, " and cannot
in any way affect you."
" It can; for would not you be the most dangerous of
rivals ^r himf and will he. not insist on your marriage
with Hilda to remove all competition ?"
''What a head for intrigue you have, Mina! you^
might be two*and-thirty instead of two-and-twenty; but
your imagination is too wild on this occasion, and though
he certainly did his best to patch up my quarrel with
86 AT ODDS.
Hilda jnst now, I cannot bring myself to believe any
thing 80 very preposterous. Be it, however, as it may,
Mina, I must forbid your enlightening my cousin on
such subjects in future. With regard to your own per-
sonal concerns, it is unnecessary for me to recommend
prudence.''
" Quite," said Mina ; " but surely we might find oppor-
tunities of seeing and speaking to each other more
frequently."
If you can manage them without compromising
yourself or me, I am sure I have no objection/' he
answered.
At this moment the sound of an approaching boat
attracted their attention. Mina retreated under the
trees of the orchard ; Sigmund moved from the door of
the boat-house, careless whether or not he were seen ;
but, leaning against the sun-dried planks that formed
the side, he saw through an aperture of the warped
wood the clumsy boat paddled slowly into the shade by
the youthful soldier of whom he spoke so slightingly,
and thought, in spite of himself, so highly. Not for any
consideration would he have said that IVank was hand-
some, but as he saw him standing in the boat, his slight,
perfectly-proportioned figure swinging backwards and
forwards, the afternoon sun glowing on his animated
countenance, he admired and hated him in nearly equal
proportions.
Unconscious of observation, Frank pushed the boat
to the low wall that served as landing-place, and said,
while assisting his aunt to land, Tell Hflda she must
come directly, as we intend to cross the lake, and walk
on the Eoman road until supper-time."
*^ And I suppose if she will not join you," said his
aunt, in reply, " I had better send some one to let you
know/'
THS SHOOK. 87
She must oome/' be answered, '^and if not here
directly I shall go for her;" then, stepping over the
planks, he seated himself in the stern of the boat be-
tween Doris and Emmeran, the latter continuing a con
Tersation that, though hitherto apparently carried on
between him and his aunt, had been intended for the
edification of Doris herself.
" Granting that spirit is the sense of being "
' Bless mel are you still among the spirits?" cried
Frank. ^'I hoped my aunt would have carried them
all off with her."
"We were talking of spirit, not spirits," explained
Doris.
^ Excuse me," said Emmeran, " but spirit is composed
of innumerable free and independent spiritual beings,
each of which, apart from the whole, pursues its pecu-
liar "
" I tell you what," said Frank, " if you won't stop this
bothering sort of talk, I'll go for Hilda I"
" Gro," said Doris, laughing : " we don't want you."
This little speech gave infinite satisfaction to Sigmund :
he watched Frank striding over the benches of the boat,
and for some time paid no attention either to Emmeran's
look of pleasure or the eager continuation of his expla-
nation. When he again began to listen, he was rather
amused at the topic of conversation chosen by his vis-
ionary brother, and the more so when he observed that
he spoke in a rather pedantic and expounding style,
evidently playing lecturer to the youthful but not unin-
telligent hearer, who opened a little wider her large
pensive eyes while listening with an air of the pro-
foundest attention.
"You must always bear in mind that we are not
purely spiritual beings," he continued; "we are the
anion of an individual spirit with the most individual
S8 AT 0PD8.
BBd highest state of nature, ^the organised human body !
The spirit enters by this union into time ; its eternity
becomes henceforward composed of periods which we
may call human lives. Am I clear f Do you under-
stand T
" Ye es/' answered Doris, hesitatingly: "you mean
that your soul came into your body, and will remain in
it during your life."
" I spoke of spirit in a general sense," he answered ;
^ we shall come hereafter to the discussion of our '1/
and ^not 1/ and ^positive V "
Doris nodded gently in acquiescence.
" The spirit is to a certain extent restricted, tiot to
say imprisoned, by this incorporation, but gains on the
other hand experience of the nature of matter. The
union of spirit with matter is of short duration ; the
human form taken by the spirit falls as systematically
back into the substance of which it was originally com-
posed, as it increased and grew to perfection. This is
quite clear."
" Quite," said Doris. " We grow up, and grow old,
and die."
"Exactly; and death is the beginning of a new life
fbr the spirit, that individual and independent continues
to fulfill its destiny in eternity."
" You mean," said Doris, " in another^nd better world,
in heaven."
"Yes, I mean another world; and may we not sup-
pose that we have been in one before we came here ?"
"I don't know," she answered, thoughtfully; "but
in that case I think we should have some recollection
of what we had s^en and heard there."
" Why so? What do you remember of yur infancy?
What can you recall of your thoughts and acts at
e^ctly this time last year? Nothing, or next to
THS SHOCK. 89
nothing; but it does not follow that yon did not think
or act then, or that what yon experienced is lost becanse
you cannot bring it back to your mind distinctly. So it
may be with the recollection of a former life : if it were
necessary for us to remember, we Should do so."
" But it is at least remarkable/' said Doris, " that of
tho millions of people who have lived in this world, not
one has been conscious of having previously existed
elsewhere."
" Are you sure of that?" he asked, earnestly, "/at
least have had moments of vague recollections, ^floating
uncertain visions."
"Oh, tell me all about them," cried Doris, eagerly.
" I cannot, for I was scarcely conscious of them at the
time^ and unable to recall them distinctly afterwards."
"Had you these visions in the long twilight of *8nm
mer evenings?" she asked, in a low voice; "and were
you alone in a large room gradually darkening, watch*
ing from the window the lengthening shadows of the
trees upon the lawn, ^not exactly thinking, rather
listening to distant sounds that brought fitfbl reooUec*
tions of " She stopped.
" Of what ?" he asked, quickly.
" Of places, and things, and people."
" That's it," he cried, eagerly ; " places and people you
were unable to name."
" But," said Doris, smiling, " my mother thinks 1 may
have seen them during my infancy in Germany; and it
is certain that all such recollections have ceased since I
returned to this country."
" I rather think," he observed, slowly, " that as we
grow older we lose these recollection8,-rthey are chased
toy the variety of other and newer impressions. Becall
the events of your past life in this world, and you will
find that only a few and not very important circum-
8*
M AT ODD0.
fltmnoM have had the power to make an indelible impreck
aion on your mind."
' In that I believe you are right/' answered Doris.
I hare a good memory, bat on consideration I most
confess that my distinct recollections are astonishingly
few."
' And yety" said Emmeran, ^ when put together they
Jbrm what we call experience. At all events, this view
of life makes the occasional appearance of extraordinary
genius less enigmatical, while it relieves one's mind
eonoeming the otherwise unaccountably hard lot of so
many of our fellow-creatures. The consideration that
in the course of time each individual spirit "
'^ Hallo !" cried Frank, entering the boat-house with
Hilda, ^'hang mo if they are not still grinding away at
the spirits I Gome now, Emmeran, be alive, take the
oars and make yourself useful. I must sit aft, as I want
to teach these girls to steer."
Emmeran obeyed, and was soon convinced that his
presence was as much forgotten by his companions as
if he had been Kuno the fisherman. And, in fact, the
gaunt figure and pale grave face of the student, scarcely
improved by the late addition of a mustache and beard
of very yellow hair, was not likely to attract the atten-
tion of the young girls, when learning to steer from an
instructor for whom they openly professed great affec-
tion, and to whose society on all occasions they gave a
decided preference.
But there was another observer who by no means
watched so calmly as Emmeran the group at the stem
of the boat. In an uncontrollable fit of jealous rage,
Sigmund sprang into the boat-house, loosed the fisher-
man's punt, and pulled out into the lake with a vehe-
mence that instantly attracted the attention of his
brother.
THS SHOOK. 91
^'Sigmimd is in fnrioas pnrsiiit/' he observed, with 4
meaning smile ; '^ shall we let him come up to us V
^'So, no/' cried Frank, springing up and seizing his
oars; "let's have a race first."
And a race they had, which lasted for nearly half an
hoar, to the great amusement of both Hilda and Doris,
when, having proved that they had a better boat and
were better manned, they lay on their oars and awaited
the ^^ Grand Seigneur" as Frank called Sigmund, fixro
his frequent use of the word and constant enacting of
what he supposed its meaning.
"Tour Serene Highness's pleasure?" said Frank,
raising his hand to his battered straw hat.
"Hilda," cried Sigmund, with compressed lips, *I
insist on your leaving that boat directly and returning
back with me to the castle."
* Why ? for what purpose ?" she asked, retreating as
much as the space would admit from his outstretched
hand.
^Because I choose it."
"But I do not/' she answered ; " and, if you have no
better reason, I shall certainly not go into your dirty
wet boat."
" It is not the dirt nor the water that prevents you,"
he retorted, angrily.
"You are quite right; I prefer my companions here
to you, when you are in such odious* ill temper."
" Bather say at all times," he suggested, with forced
calmness; and then added, "Bemember our conversa-
tion in my father's presence a couple of hours ago :
either you come into this boat, or "
To the infinite surprise of all excepting Sigmund,
Hilda stood up, and, though indignantly refusing his
assistance, stepped into the punt and seated herself in
the stern, with a strong expression of displeasure on
92 AT ODDS.
her beautiAil featureB, while Frank, who had been with
difficulty prevented by Doris rom interfering, now
pnlled off his jacket| rolled it np, and, having drawn the
boats close together, placed it beneath her feet.
Thanks, dear Frank," she said, with heightened
Color; and either to show her sense of the contrast
between the yonng men, or to punish and provoke
Sigmund, she accompanied her words with a look of
such unrestrained affection and approbation, that Sig*
mnnd, angry with himself for having demanded an obe-
dience that gave him no satisfaction, more irritated
than even Hilda supposed at appearing in so disadvan-
tageous a light to Doris, now clenched his hands and
resolved to end the scene by a separation of the boats.
He may have observed that Frank had scarcely re-
gained his place, but he certainly was not aware that
Doris's hand was still grasping the side of the punt
when he raised his oar and with all the strength of a
powerful man in a state of ungovernable rage pushed
the. boats wide asunder. The punt reeled in a manner
that made Hilda draw in her breath with a stifled
scream; Frank staggered and fell on his face, while
Doris, unable to steady herself from the unexpected
shock, was instantly precipitated into the water. There
was no danger for her excepting from the eagerness of the
two swimmers, who instantly plunged to her rescue as
she rose to the surface of the water, each equally eager
to be her life-preserver. Frank, however, fiercely
pushed Sigmund aside, although the motion cost Doris
a fresh immersion in the lake ; but he finally brought
her safely to the boat, into which, with Emmeran's
assistance, he placed her, leaving his competitor to re-
gain the punt at his leisure.
A remarkable silence was observed respecting this
adventare, Doris's mother alone being informed by her
A HOLT-XYB ABTXNTURX. 98
of what liad oconned. Between Frank and Sigmimd a
qnarrel woold have been ineyitable, had not Doris
informed the former that Sigmnnd had expressed great
regret at the conseqaences of his violence and requested
her forgiveness ; bnt evidently the mutnal dislike only
watted for an opportunity to explode, and Doris anz
ioosly endeavored to keep them apart until the ire of
both gradually began to subside.
CHAPTER XII.
A HOLT-EVX ADVENTUBS.
DuniNO the course of the ensuing week Doris and
her mother heard; with a satisfaction which they found
it difficult to conceal, that an encampment at Nym-
phenburg, near Munich, would oblige Sigmund to leave
Westenri^d. They had found Frank very unmanage-
able, and all their efforts to induce him to be cautious
or forbearing in his intercourse with Sigmund so utterly
fruitless, that had not Hilda joined them and for the
time-being not only avoided Frank, but in a measure
endeavored to propitiate Sigmund, the continual skir-
mishing would undoubtedly have ended in open war.
" Joy go with you I" said Frank, gravely bowing as
Sigmund turned to take leave of him.
" Much obliged," he replied, haughtily; "but I cannot
quite believe that you think joy will go away with me;,
or wish joy to accompany me. This," he added, glanc-
ing suspiciously towards Doris, whose lips quivered
slightly with a suppressed smile, " this is either Irish
poesie or Garvagh wit, whichyl do not understand."
94 AT ODDS.
^ It is only part of a fbolisli nursery rhyme/' inter-
posed Doris, qaickly, ^not a little alarmed at the now
flashing eyes of both. Frank has said it to me a hun-
dred times/'
Then he did not mean to ''
^^ Come, come, Sigmnnd/' cried his father, who was
already seated in the carriage, ^^if we intend to reach
our quarters for the night before dark, there is no more
time to lose."
The sound of the wheels was still audible, while
Frank exclaimed, ^^ I suppose, aunt, that now, as Em-
meran and I are not likely to quarrel, and Sigmund is
quite out of the way, you will have no objection to
our celebrating Holy Eve, as we used to do at Grar-
vagh V
"None whatever," she answered; "you may melt
lead and burn nuts to your heart's content."
"Oh, I assure you we intend to attempt mnch
greater things than lead-melting or nut-buriiing, for
Doris has promised to show Mina and Hilda their futare
husbands' faces in a glass, if they have coura|^e to look
at them."
"I can answer for myself," said Hilda; "but Mina
has no courage when she hears of any thing super-
natural."
" Doris says there is nothing to be feared," observed
Mina ; " she has promised not to use any sleight of hand
to dupe or frighten me."
"Only a little mummery," said Doris, *'such as going
to the vaults on the island at midnight, and looking
in the glass by the light of burning salt and spirits of
wine."
"Don't you think," asked Mina, appealing to the
countess, " don't you think she might play this conjur-
ing, or whatever it is, in a less alarming sort of place f"
_ A HOLT-EYE ADVENTURE. 95
^ Undoubtedly. With a white quilt or a table-cloth,
one of the attics would do just as well."
" But why a white cloth V
'' To assist the burning salt in exciting the imagina-
tion and causing apprehension.''
'' It will cause none to me/' said Hilda ; '' I am con
vinced it is some jest, and she will find herself mistaken
if she think to amuse herself at my expense. I shall
look in the glass and see whatever is to be seen, you
may depend upon it."
" I think you will," said Frank, " and after all you
are not at all likely to see any thing frightful. Even a
blue light could scarcely disfigure such features as she
will "
Doris's hand was on his mouth.
'Kow, Frank, I really do not think I can em-
ploy you as assistant if you talk in this thoughtless
manner."
" How do you know that I was not going to say she
would see Sigmund's handsome face, perhaps even
hi up by smiles, that have been confoundedly rare
of late?"
"Faces seen in this way," said Doris, with affected
solemnity, ''are seldom smiling, and always frightfully
pale."
" Pray," asked Emmeran, " did you ever look in a glass
at midnight before All Saints' Day V
"Yes."
"And saw," he continued, "or thought you saw, a
Uack-haired, blue-eyed fellow, just like Frank here ?"
"No matter what I saw," replied Doris, laughing;
" let me show you the face of your future wife, if only
to remove your incredulity."
^KOj thank you : there is but one face I should like to
96 AT 0PD8.
BQtj in your magio mirror, and that one yon are not IScely
to show mo."
"What do you mean by that ?" cried Frank: "are we
to understand that yon are a despairing lover, while we
supposed you a rhymer, I mean to say a poet f"
" And why a poet ?" asked Emmeran.
" Your love of solitude and moonlight led to the sup-
position; add to which your studious habits and the
little lamp that may be seen burning at all hours of the
night in your room."
" Any other evidence?" he asked.
" Yes : your ink never dries up like other people's ;
and the other day when you allowed me to write my
letters in your room I saw "
" What did you see?" asked Emmeran, coloring.
"Something written, that looked amazingly like
poetry."
"Which you of course read and laughed at I"
"Which of course I did not read," replied Frank.
"Written or printed verse can be known at a distance
that leaves the words illegible, and you can scarcely
require the assurance that I did not place it within
reading distance."
"After all" said Emmeran, "what matters it? you
would have laughed to find I had composed a soldier's
war-song !"
" Not II" replied Frank; " I should only laugh if you
turned soldier yourself."
"Why so?"
"Because you're a ^scholar, and only fit for a learned
profession."
"I don't know that," observed Emmeran, musingly;
" I can handle a sabre as well as any of you."
"But in our warfare, Emmeran, we have no padding
for either legs or arms, such as I am told is usual in your
A HOIiT-SVS ADVSNTUBB 97
oniverBity encounters, and no friends to intei*fere when
matters take a serious turn; and though I have no
doubt you have had your rows and fought your student
duels most creditably, it's not the real thing, and you had
better stick to the pen, for which you have a decided
predilection.''
" One is so slighted, almost despised, in times such as
these, if not in the army V observed Emmeran, looking
wistfully after the three girls, who had sauntered into
the garden.
"Oh, it's that, is it?" said Frank, laughing: "well,
you're pretty right there; we are somewhat favored
in that quarter, undoubtedly."
" I wonder," said Emmeran, " is it the uniform or the
profession itself that "
" I don't know, and don't care," answered Frank;
' but it is very agreeable, and I hope it may never be
otherwise." And even while speaking he began to walk
towards the garden gate, leaving Emmeran standing by
the fountain in the middle of the court with folded arms,
his head bent down and completely absorbed in the self-
communing that was habitual to him whenever an op-
portunity offered.
It is not necessary to describe the melting of lead or
breaking of eggs into glasses, that, according to German
credulity, must be filled with water during the ringing
of the Ave Maria. The nut-burning was new to Emme-
ran, who was untiring in putting his constancy to some
mysterious personage, whom he declined naming, to the
proof in this manner. Subsequently, every achievable
superstitious practice, both German and English, was
tried to while away the hours until midnight; but at
length they became tired, seated themselves near a win-
dow, observing that it was fortunate the night, though
cloudy, would not be dark for their e^cpedition to the
m AT OPD8.
t
island; talked as a matter of course of superstitions in
general, and then glided naturally and imperceptibly
nto a (ilBcnssion of all the ghost-stories they had ever
heard; which, as the Countess Waldering ohserved
(when they thought it time to look at the clock), was the
best possible preparation for Doris's magic mirror on
the island.
You will let me be the first to look into it?" said
Kina, with some hesitation.
" Of course, if you wish it." ^
"And ^and ^if you please, a little before it strikes
twelve o'clock."
*' I don't know whether or not I can agree to that,"
said Doris; ^the charm lies in the midnight hour, you
know."
" I always suspected that Mina's courage would fail in
the end," cried Hilda, laughing; Hhe fact is, she has
heard that there is no danger of an apparition until
after the clock strikes twelve, as it is from All Saints'
Day to Twelfth Night that ghosts and goblins are sup-
posed to be at liberty to make themselves visible."
I dare say that is the reason that midnight is the
time chosen in Ireland, also," said Doris ; ' but is it not
curious, mamma, that though no one here knows any
thinjg of Holy Eve by name, there should be so much
resemblance in the superstition and the time chosen V
^ Tou might have observed the same at Midsummer,
Doris, when the bonfires were made ; however, if you
mean to be in the island to-night before midnight, 'you
have no more time to lose ; for my part, I wish we were
back again and in our beds !"
A mass of clouds covered the sky and obscured the
full moon, which nevertheless gave a sombre steady
light that penetrated through the branches of the nearly
leafless trees of the orchard, dimly glimmered on the
A HOLT-XVX ABYXNTUBX. d9
Barfiice of the lake, and made the wooded hills beyond
dark and prominent.
Silently they rowed in the calm melancholy autumn
night to the island, and when tH^re Doris and Frank
were much too busy with the preparations for their
mammery to observe the anxiety of Mina or the unusual
gravity of Hilda.
^' I wish, Doris, you would let Mina look in your glass
before midnight/' said her mother; you have time
enough if you choose to do so, and it is ungenerous your
trying to increase her alarm after she has confessed her
want of courage."
''Don't spare meP' cried Hilda; ''let me, if possible,
stand before the glass while the clock is striking
twelve!"
Doris laughed, and disappeared with her lantern,
followed by Frank, carrying a basket. She led the way
to the place where she had a few years previously spent
a night with her mother, and, Frank having been on the
island during the morning, she found a roughly-con-
structed table, on which she deposited her glass, and
then began to seek proper places for her dishes of salt
and spirits of wine.
*' Oh, Frank, this is delightfully horrible I" she ex-
claimed. " If Hilda can stand here alone and look in
that glass without feeling uncomfortable, she has more
courage than I have; that's allT
" I think she has more courage than most girls," he
said ; " and we will put it to the proof, as she has boasted
a good deal."
'* I suppose I may bring Mina down now," said Doris,
"but you must go to the end of the vaults, beyond the
stairs, where you can see without being seen."
And Frank, not unwillingly, withdrew to the place
proposed, for exactly there he had deposited a beard
100 AT ODDS.
made of black lamb's-wool and an old hussar jacket that
he had found in a chest in oiie of the attics. He had,
however, no intention of masquerading for Mina; and,
having accoutred himself in the jacket, which was easily
concealed by his cloak, and thrust the beard and a black
handkerchief into his pocket, he followed his cousin up
the steps, and reached the boat just as Mina was leaving
it with her.
Eemember, Doris, that Mina must not be left alone
in the vaults/' said her mother; ''and the sooner you
bring her back the better.'' ^
"For every reason," said Frank; "but especially be-
cause your blue flames are wasting their brightness on
the damp vault-walls, and it will soon be midnight"
" Oh, come, then," cried Doris, taking Mina's hand
and springing up the bank : " we shall be back directly."
" " I wonder," observed Frank, soon afterwards, " I
wonder you can sit fireezing in that boat. Walking up
and down the island is so much pleasanter."
"I thought you intended to assist Doris," said his
aunt.
"No, thank you; this is nothing new to me, and the
vaults are confoundedly cold."
He walked up and down, it must be confessed, a little
ostentatiously, disappearing occasionally for some mi-
nutes, and then returning to propose their going in a
body to release Mina from the apparition she so much
dreaded.
In the mean time, Doris led her half-willing, half-re-
luctant companion down the steps, and with some diffi-
culty induced her to approach the glass.
" You must hold my hand and walk with me, Doris."
" Of course, if you wish it."
They stood before the glass.
" Well, what do you see 7"
A HOLT-ITX ABTENTUBB. 101
"Kotbing."
" What I nothing at all V
"Nothing."
" Not even your own face J"
N no."
Doris looked in the glass, and perceived that Mina's
eyes were shut firmly.
"Oh, if you close your eyes you will certainly see
nothing; but all you have to see is your own face.
Should you ever marry, you belong to your husband,
and your face, being part of yourself, is Aw/"
" Is that all V* cried Mina, turning round almost an-
grily in the sadden revulsion of feeling; " is that all V
" I thought," said Doris, smiling, " you would be glad
to find my conjuring a mere play upon words."
" But I am not glad," said Mina ; " for, though terribly
frightened, I should, after all, have looked in the glass,
and I hoped or expected to see him or his shadow."
" "Well, look again," replied Doris; " if you reajly wish
to be frightened, perhaps your imagination may conjure
up something. I can show you nothing but your own
fiice, and made all these preparations merely to try
your courage and amuse you."
Quite reassured by these words, Mina looked straight
into the glass, but, almost instantly covering her face
with her hands, she uttered a half-suppressed scream
and then burst into tears.
" What is the matter V asked Doris, anxiously : " did
you fancy you saw "
" No ! no I no I it was not Sigmund "
"Sigmund?"
" Yes ^no that is he was in my mind ; but I only
daw my own face, as I have often thought of it, corpse-
like, ^eep, deep under water !"
" Let us go I" cried Doris, much alarmed ; " you are
9*
102 AT ODDS.
talking so wQdly that I cannot allow yon to stay here
any longer."
" Doris ! dear Doris I you most first promise not to
tell that I named that I thought of Sigmund."
"I feel' hound to he silent," said Doris, gravely, "for
you spoke under the influence of terror caused hy me.
And now you must assist me to dissuade Hilda from
coming here ; she mighty after all, be frightened, and I
will not undertake the responsibility."
The efforts to dissuade were unavailing, for Hilda
was quite resolved to look in the magic glass.
" I shall not go with you," said Doris; " for Mina only
saw her own face, and was completely terrified."
" I don't want or wish you or any one to go with me,"
replied Hilda, resolutely.
" Then make haste," rejoined Doris, " or else you will
find yourself in the dark, which will certainly not be
pleasant."
Whij^ they were speaking, Frank had had time to
hide himself in one of the vaults, and watched, soon
after, the descent of Hilda. For a moment, the quiver-
ing blue lights seemed to make a disagreeable impres-
sion; but, without giving herself time to think, she
walked quickly up to the glass and gazed steadily at the
beautifully-regular features that even the ghastly color
thrown on them could not disfigure. Now, so standing
alone at midnight before a glass and looking fixedly
into it ^be it Holy-Eve or not ^is very soon any thing
but agreeable. One's own eyes become full of alarming
intelligence, and seem those of some one else, piercing
one's inmost thoughts. Taking, therefore, the place
and light into consideration, Hilda's courage was very
surprising; but she had had enough, and was just going to
turn away, when she perceived the glass reflect a figure
that seemed distant, and, in the expiring light, so indis^
A HOLT-BVB ADYSNTUBI. lOS
tinct tbat it might be mistaken for a shadow. It was a
hard trial for the poor girl; her knees trembled^ and
she stretched both bands forward and grasped the
planks on which the glass was placed; bnt still she
looked steadily before her, and contemplated the pallid
face of what appeared to her a wounded soldier, across
whose forehead and nearly concealing one eye a broad
black kerchief was bonnd, while the lower part of his
face was covered with a thick short beard, leaving only
a small portion of cheek visible.
While still gazing and doubting the evidence of her
eyes, one of the lights flared wildly upwards, and, pre-
vions to extinction, showed her for a moment the slight
figure of an Austrian hussar; the other burned so dimly
that she could scarcely any longer distinguish the out-
line of her own face, still less the apparition beyond.
The fear of being left in utter darkness gave her cou-
rage to turn round and hurry towards the stone steps,
np which she rushed, and then seated herself on a stone
in the ruin, beside which Doris had left her lantern.
Some minutes elapsed before she felt composed enough
to descend to the boat: when she did so, Frank was
seated in it with the others, like them, wondering what
on earth could detain Hilda so long. He supposed she
was unconscious of the lapse of time while admiring
her pretty face in the mirror,
" Kot exactly,*' she answered, stepping into the boat,
''for I never liked my face so little as in that glass, and
never wish to see it in such a light again.''
''But in seeing it you saw your future husband's
fece," said Doris.
"That would be curious, for it was not Sigmund,"
she replied; ^but I shall know him when I see him^
at all events."
" Good gracious, child ? what do you mean f'* cried
104 AT ODDS.
her mother, hastily; "have yon been terrified into the
idea that yon have seen an apparition V
'Iwas not mnch frightened/' answered Hilda; "in
fact; only a little uncomfortable, nntil I saw the black-
bearded hnssar looking at me."
'' This is some trick that has been played npon yon/'
said her mother, starting up; "if Emmeran had not
been sitting in the boat, and Frank walking np and
down within sight of us the whole time, I should have
accused them of having attempted to put your courage
to the test. We must search the vaults instantly.''
" I have seen enough of them for this night/' said
Hilda, seating herself beside Mina; "but I hope yon
may find somebody or something that will clear np
this mystery."
" You, of course, expected to see Sigmund ?" observed
Mina, in a low voice.
"I expected to see my own face, and I saw it, and
very corpse-like it looked; but what put an Austrian
hussar into my head I cannot imagine, and one not in
the least resembling any of those I used to know in
papa's regiment long ago, though the uniform was
precisely the same."
" The wood-ranger has a black beard," suggested her
mother.
"But he has small eyes and a snub nose," replied
Hilda. " No, dear, it was certainly not the wood-ranger,
who could not know any thing of our intention to come
here, and would not, at all events, venture to take such
a liberty."
" Suppose he had been desired to post himself in the
vaults V suggested her mother, looking suspiciously at
Emmeran and Frank. "I wish it were so: it would
be more satisfactory."
"I believe/' said Emmeran, turning to Frank, *tr
A HOLT-XYI ABTSNTXTRS. 105
must now insist on a search, and the sooner the better.
My conscieDce is clear^ and I don't choose to be sus-
pected."
Frank threw the folds of his mantle more careAiUy
over his shonlder, and followed him to the vaalts,
accompanied by Doris and her mother.
Every nook and comer were searched, but without
success, and they were preparing to return to the boat,
when the light suddenly fell on something shining that
lay on the ground. The countess picked it up eagerly,
and held it to the candle of the lantern.
' How's this?" she exclaimed; "this ring is mine, or
rather was mine, until I gave it to your step-father,
Doris. It served as guard to his wedding-ring, and
well I remember his annoyance at having lost it one
cold day, when he supposed he must have drawn it ofl
his finger with his*glove I"
Fri^nk put his hand into the pocket of the jacket,
and felt that a glove was in it ! Should he confess, or
should he not? that was the question. His aunt's
agitation, as she recognized and examined the ring,
pointed out her initials inside, and showed how it
could be contracted and enlarged, dismayed him; he
feared also her displeasure for having attempted to
frighten Hilda, and was silent.
Prom that time forward, the ghost of Count Walder
ing had undisturbed possession of the vaults on the
island, Frank's circumstantial confession, made some
years subsequently, obtaining no general credence, as
it was supposed he merely invented a plausible story
to satisfy his aunt and silence the ghost-seers.
How many tales of haunted places have had less
foundation than the Holy-Eve prank of this young
lieutenant of dragoons I
106 AT ODDS.
CHAPTBK Xm.
THE SINGULAR BSTBOTHAL.
The succeeding winter was spent in Munich, Doris
and her sister presented at court, and allowed to enjoy
the gayeties of the Carnival without reserve. They
gained some knowledge of the world, became perfectly
conscious of their personal advantages, and were as
thoroughly dazzled and delighted with the then dancing,
flirting, French-speaking society of Munich, as might
be expected. Scarcely, however, had the recrea-
tions of Lent commenced, when a journey to XJlm
became necessary, in order to take possession of the
very considerable property which Hilda had inherited
from a grand-aunt, of whose sudden death they then
heard.
This grand-aunt had married, half a century pre-
viously, the only son of one of those families called
" patrician," in the free town of XJlm. He proved the
last of his race, and his arms, reversed in the usual
manner under such circumstances, may be seen to this
day on a bronze monument in the beautiful cathedral
of the town. His wife and sole heiress by birth a
Waldering, and possessed with the mania for name
and family which seems, with the exception of Turkey,
to prevail all over Europe had not only left Hilda all
she had promised her, but also every thing else she
possessed in the world, with the solemn injunction to
fulfill her engagement to her cousin Sigmund as soon
as circumstances would permit.
THB 8IMGULAB BETROTHAL. 107
Sigmandy thoD, as a party concerned, ^tfae Director,
as a man of businesSy and the dowager-coantessi with
her companion Mina Pallersberg, because they did not
like being left alone, accompanied Hilda, her motheri
and Boris, to TJlm, and soon found themselves comfort*
ably lodged in the old patrician house, near one of the
gates of the* town, that a few monthly later became the
oentre of important military events.
The then threatening aspect of political affairs, how-
ever, appeared to them like a distant thunder-storm;
they hoped it would blow over, or at least not mate-
rially interfere with their plans and prospects. Em-
meran, greatly against the wishes of his father and
grandmother, had lately entered the Bavarian army.
Sigmund, however, abo^t the same time, had retired
from the service, and they would have been perfectly
satisfied with him had he been a little more attentive
to his cousin Hilda: while, however, daily discussing
her affairs with his father, and continually proposing
improvements on her property, he apparently forgot
herself altogether, or seemed to consider her as merely
a part of what would be his at any time he chose to
appoint during the ensuing autumn.
At the rear of the Waldering house there was a small,
shady grass-garden, ending in a parapet wall, that had
been built to confine the encroachments of the Danube;
and under the trees a brick summer-house, that, accord-
ing to the fashion of the time, was tasteflilly built to
represent a Grecian temple. Here the family spent the
greater part of the warm days of July and August, and
here it was that Doris and her mother bravely under-
took the political defense of the Austrians against the
attacks of the Bavarians and French, in the persons of
the Director and Sigmund, ^the old countess being
neutral, Hilda purely Bavarian, while Mina Pallersberg
106 AT ODIMB.
was openly accused of the not uncommon meanness of
siding with whichever party was most strongly repre*
sented. Here also they received freqnent visits from
Frank O'More, whose regiment was quartered in the
neighborhood, and laughed at his predictions of a con-
centration of troops in the town ; his advice to them to
return to Westenried or Munich being scoffed at by the
Director as the opinion of a subaltern officer, who could
not know any of the plans under consideration at head-
quarters.
The fact was, Hilda's affairs made their presence very
necessary at Ulm for some time longer, and, in the idea
that they could leave the town whenever they pleased,
they lingered on, from day to day more interested in
the efforts made to repair and fortify the works' on the
neighboring heights, where in process of time not only
the garrison, but the inhabitants of the town and the
peasants in its vicinity, were day and night employed
in thousands. Never before, and perhaps never since,
was Ulm a scene of such reckless gayety as just then.
At every hotel possessed of rooms sufficiently spacious
for the purpose, there were balls without the intermissioii
of a single night ; and Frank, naturally wishing to par-
take of these festivities and enjoy as much as possible
the society of his relations, soon managed to have him-
self billeted in their house. He informed them of this
arrangement one afternoon in the garden, and added,
laughingly, that he was glad to perceive Sigmund was
the only person to whom his presence would be an
annoyance. '
'^Bather say a matter of indifference, Frank,'' ob-
served his aunt.
' Any thing but indifferent, dear aunt : can you not
see that he is as jealous as everf"
Jealous! of whomf"
THE SINOUIiAB BSTBOTHAL. 109
"Of me."
" For what reason ?"
. ^ Because Doris likes me, and intends to many me as
soon as I am a colonel I"
' I really was not aware of this arrangement/' said
his aont, laughing; and looking towards her daughter,
who was leaning on the parapet near them, '' You haye
forgotten to ask my consent, Doris."
" I thought/' she answered, smiling, ' it would he better
to wait until Frank had made up his mind whether he
liked me or Hilda best : he has been rather wavering in
his allegiance lately.'^
"Wavering I" repeated Frank; "no, Doris, not for a
moment I I love you, and you alone; but you must
allow me to admire Hilda, she has grown so wonderAilly
beautiful during the last year."
" You cannot admire her more than I do," said Doriii
gently.
''Now, that's exactly what I knew you would say/*
continued Frank ; and, as you have no objection to my
liking Hilda next best to you; we may as well tell my
aunt our plans for the future."
*' Tour plans, Frank, if you please."
" Yery well. My plan is this, you see, dear aunt, I
cannot marry Doris for ever so many years, but she
doesn't mind that ; rather likes waiting, I believe.'^
Oh, indeed!"
"Yes: I assure you she thinks ten years hence quite
time enough ; and, as I have nothing but my profession,
I cannot give it up, you know, ^would^not, however, if
I could, as long as there is work to be done, or a chance
of obtaining a Theresian Gross !"
" Or a bullet to cool your restless ambition/' observed
his aunt| quietly.
10
110 AT I0B.
''Half a dozen ballets, if the reward be tlie Gross/' he
answered, gayly.
''And half a dozen it may eost yon, Frank^ perhaps
yonr life !"
Very possibly," he answered ; " and the more so as
I am more likely to ase my arm than my head in the
oiTort to obtain it."
"Dear Frank; what do yon mean?" asked Doris,
moving nearer.
'I mean that few things are more difficult to obtain
than a Theresian Cross; and that, thoagh there are
various ways of trying for it, mine must be some act
of personal courage, as I fear my hand is readier than
my head when on a field of battle."
I think you might be satisfied with your promotion
and the medal you have already received for perscmal
bravery."
" No, Doris : nothing will satisfy me but this Cross,
of which I have as good a chance as any one, for it is
given without the slightest regard to religion, rank, or
any other circumstance. This highest of all military
decorations will confer on me the title of baron, and you
shall then choose a new name for me.''
" Why not keep your own ?" asked Doris.
"Well, BO I can, if you wish itj but when one's own
is not famoQB in any particular way, it is usual to take
a name, indicative of a a, what a fellow has done, or
something of that sort."
" If that be the case," said his aunt, " I think we must
wait until the fellow has been and done it I"
Frank laughed. "Perhaps you are right," he said,
good-humoredly ; " and there is not much chance of my
having an opportunity of distinguishing myself just
now, for every one says our position here is untenable.
For my own part, I hate the idea of being shut up in a
THE SINQULAK BETROTHAI.. Ill
town, and would a thousand times rather meet the
French at once, or retreat, if ahsolately neoesaary, while
it can be done creditably !"
" But/' observed his annt^ " Captain Pallersberg thinks
it is now too late to retire to the Tyrol, and says we may
very soon expect the French in our neighborhood. The
Director, however, has just informed me that as the
Walderings are Bavarians, we have personally nothing
to fear."
" I hope however," began Frank, " that you and Doris
BTe not going to side with the French V
'By no means, Frank; but women are privileged
cowards, you know, and in case of the worst we cannot
be expected openly to proclaim ourselves champions for
'Austria."
I will," said Doris : '' at least whenever I can do so
without making myself ridiculous."
^^ That's right," cried Frank, and I can assure you
that, with the exception of Napoleon himself, there is
scarcely a Frenchman who will think it necessary to
take umbrage at your calling yourself an enemy."
At this moment Hilda entered the garden and caine
towards them, exclaiming, " I thought, Frank, you were
obliged to remain some days longer at Forsteck about
the horses required for your regiment 7"
" Well, so I am, and I only came here to-day to report
progress. A corporal and five men are with me in your
gardener's old tower; we have turned his cow out to
graze, and taken possession of her quarters for our
horses."
"I wonder you did not prefer Forsteck for yourself,
at least?"
" Of course I should, if you were all staying there ; but
what should I do alone in those great, grand roomsf
The gardener's tower, with its two pigeon-holes on each
112 AT ODPS.
-story, Bttits me famondy, aa I have my mem above and
my honeB below me at nighf
" And concerning the aloe at Elehingen, Frank, did
yon make inquiries about it ?"
** All right ! it is blowing magnificently. They have
placed it in a sort of half-ruined chapel, near the mon-
astery, and crowds of people from Ulm come daily to
see it and wander afterwards to the inn, where roast
chickens are still to be had by those who have money
to pay for them 1"
Now, mamma,'' said Hilda, " suppose we were to
make an excursion to-morrow to see this blossoming
aloe. Tou know aloes only blow once in a hundred
years, and grandmamma and Mina wish to see it; and
you could all go in the carriage, and Doris and I might
ride with Sigmund, and Frank could join us for an hour
or two at Blchingen, and "
" And and ^and," said her mother, laughing, " you
need not be so very eager, as I have not the least in-
tention of opposing your plan."
''Then, Frank," said Hilda, ''you must promise to
join us."
. " Of course, if those tiresome peasants of yours do not
detain me. Have you any commands for the gardener
at Forsteck V
'' Some flowers ; but you will be sure to forget to bring
them to me."
" If I do, I promise to return to Forsteck for them,
and give you leave to talk of my negligence for years
to come !"
" I only talk of your neglect of me, Frank 5 for if it
were Doris who wished for flowers^ you would bring
them as certainly as I stand here, notwithstanding yo^ir
habitual carelessness."
THE SINQUIiAB BETBOTHAL. 118
" And if I forgot them/' he answered, '^ she woiold Mi
think it worth speaking of."
" Perhaps so ; hut; as I am not Doris, I intend to exaet
the attention due to me."
* And, Doris," he rejoined, gayly, " has given me leave
to pay you as maeh as yon desire."
^ I know she has ; she told me she had no ri^t to
object."
That is not exactly the state of the case now," said
Frank, with heightened color, ^ for we have just entered
mto an engagement for ten years."
'^Is this true ?" asked Sigmond, advancing from the
gate of the yard into the garden and walking straight
towards Doris, '*is this true, or is it one of your
cousin's intolerably perplexing jests ?"
"I declare I scarcely know," she answered, smiling;
' but, if Frank chooses to consider himself engaged, I
have no objection,. as he is satisfied to postpone the dis-
cussion of the matter for such a length of time I"
*^ Oh, is that all ?" said Sigmund, turning towards the
river; and then adding ironically, in a low voice, And
this he calls an engagement !"
" This is not all," cried Frank, roused to a vague feel-
ing of jealousy, and a good deal chafed at Doris's too
apparent self-possession and caution, ^Hhis is not all;
and I now demand a straightforward serious answer
to "
" Now, Frank, don't get into a passion for nothing,"
expostulated Doris.
^ I am not in a passion," he answered, with quivering
lips } "I am only in earnest, and very earnest, for once in
my life I Doris, darling," he added, stretching forward
both his hands, ^ is it, or is it not to be?"
And, without a moment's hesitation, Doris placed her
hands in his and answered, "As you will, Frank ; I only
10*
114 AT ODDS.
irished to leare you at liberty, because I doubted* your
constancy bearing the test of time, as I am quite mure
mine will.''
"Doris, don't say that."
" I would not if you had not compelled me," she re-
plied ; " and now go, and be satisfied with having forced
me to make a confession before witnesses, with which
you might either have dispensed altogether or asked for
less imperiously and publicly. "
Frank blushed as deeply at this reprimand as Doris
herself had done while giving it, and, murmuring some-
thing about being a hot-tempered fool and not worthy
of her, he left the garden.
*'A truly singular betrothaH" observed Sigmund,
filliping some loose stones from the wall into the
river.
" Doris," said her mother, gravely, '* I trust you have
not acted firom impulse on this occasion, and overseen
the importance of your promise."
1^0, mamma, not at all : Frank and I have been inti-
mate from infancy, and learned almost to like each
other's faults. An engagement may serve to steady
him, and I should have awaited his decision at all
events."
** You are quite right, Doris," said Hilda, warmly, *'for
he certainly is the dearest, bravest, handsomest ^"
" You had better not go on," cried her mother, laugh-
ing, " or Sigmund will be jealous."
" Not the least danger," he observed, without looking
up } ^' Hilda makes no secret of her preference for Frank,
and I feel and know as well as she does that our mar-
riage is but the falfiUment of a family compact. For-
tunately oar long intimacy and engagement has taught
us, if not to like, at least to tolerate each other's faults,
so perhaps, after all," he added, shmgginghis shoulders,
THX SINQUIiAB SSTBOTHAIi. 115
^'onr chanee of happiness is as good as Frank antf
Doris's."
' I hope so/' said his annt, gravely, as she turned from
them to follow Doris, who was walking towards the
honse.
" Yet there is a great difference*-^ '' hegan Hilda^
hesitatingly.
"Perhaps so, if well considered," he replied.
" Let US consider well while there is time, Sigmnnd,"
she said, leaning on the wall beside him ; '' I fear, in fact
I am sure, you are not at all attached to me, as Frank
is to Doris. You merely wish with my fortune to give
the Walderings their former position in the world?"
"And yon," he replied, calmly, wish merely to share
that position, and preserve your name and rank."
" My father's wishes have weighed with me far more
than yon suppose," said Hilda.
" Sufficiently to stifle your love and admiration for
the dearest, bravest, handsomest' of cousins ?" he asked,
ironically.
"Ko/' said Hilda, courageously, though blushing in-
tensely ; '' but Frank has never thought of me, not more
than Doris of you I There is no cause of jealousy for
either of us, so we may put that out of the question, and
only consider if it would not be better to break off an
engagement that is becoming worse than irksome to us
both."
" You amaze me, Hilda, for just at this moment my
engagement to you is less irksome than it has been for
years, and yours to me ought to be the same."
" I do not understand "
' Then I will speak as plainly as yourself: as long as
Doris and Frank were free, we might have entertained
hopes, and **
" No, Sigmund, Frank has openly professed his attach*
lie AT OHM.
inent to Dori$ ever since I knew him. Had not this
been the case^ I should never have consented to our
betrothal before we left Munich. It is, however^ not
yet too late to make you free." Here she drew from
her finger the ring he had given her when they had
been affianced ; but Sigmund only took it for a moment
in his hand in order to replace it on hers, while vehe-
mently declining the proffered freedom.
As they soon after left the garden, the door of the
temple-formed summer-house was hastily opened, and
Mina Pallersberg descended the steps, carrying a large
piece of tapestry-work, in which a nice observer might
have discovered that the chief implement of industry,
a needle, had been forgotten. Flushed and agitated, her
first impulse was to follow the retreating figures. Even
Bigmund's name was uttered in a low panting voice;
but she suddenly turned round, retraced her steps to
her former place of retreat, and was there found an
hour aftierwards, to all appearance working diligently,
by a servant who came to inform her that the French
papers had arrived, and the dowager countess greatly
wished to have them read to her.
CHAPTBE XIV.
A Bins IN SEARCH OP A BOUQUET.
The Walderings spent the next day at Elchingen,
and, after an early dinner, visited the aloe, which is still
well remembered by many of the then inhabitants of
Ulm. It was a magnificent plant, and, with a 5buple
of others less advanced in years, completely filled the
A BIBS IN SXAltOH OF A BOUQUET. 117
ohq^l in which it had been placed. Both Doris
Hilda received from the gardener one of the pendent
blossoms that grew thickly on the numerous long stalks;
the others, less favored, purchased small phials of the
sap, which the Director immediately surmised to be
honey and water, as no plant could have furnished TTlm
with such a quantity of sweet juice and be still in so
flourishing a condition.
For so grand a plant, the flower is insignificant/'
observed Doris; ^^but I am glad I have seen it.''
^Many flowers, too, are prettier,'' said Hilda, ex
amining hers attentively. "And," she added, suddenly
raising her head and turning to Frank, "and, now that
I think of it, where is the bouquet you were to bring
me for the ball to-night? Forgotten, of course^ as I
jM^dicted I"
"No, and yes," answered Frank, laughing. **The
flowers were ordered by me yesterday evening, and
brought this morning by the gardener. I placed them
with the greatest care in water to keep them fresh, then
went to examine a score of horses; received a dispatch
from head-quarters ordering me to conclude my business
as soon as possible, as there was no longer a doubt that
the French were approaching our neighborhood ; mounted
my horse without returning to my room, and so the
flowers were forgotten."
"Don't suppose I expected you to remember them,"
said Hilda, turning from him ; while Frank, perceiving
she was offended, followed, and, to obtain pardon, com-
pletely devoted himself to her for the remainder of the
afternoon. He was not only forgiven, but soon rein-
stated in her good graces ; and when he was obliged to
return to Forsteck, she accompanied him to the yard to
look at his new horse, told him she would dance with
him if be could manage to come to the ball| and "she
118 AT ODDS.
believed she woald give him anotheir triid: he might
bring the boiiqaet with him."
" I think/' said Mina Pallersberg, who had not left
Hilda's side daring the afternoon, '^ I think it would be
better if we all went home by Forstcck ; it is very litUa
oat of the way, and you might ride on before the rest
and see if your bouquet be really on Captain O'More's
table, as he asserts.''
"Of that there is no doubt whatever," answered
Hilda, quickly; ''but I should like the ride with Frank,
and have a great mind to run back and ask mamma and
grandmamma's leave."
'Ah, bah!" cried Mina; ''if you ask them, they will
make all sorts of difficulties. Bide on before, and they
will follow, you may depend upon it. Shall I say you
will meet them at the cross-roads? or that they will
find you at home before them ? You can easily manage
one or the other."
" Very easOy," said Hilda, already wavering. " Frank^
what do you say ?"
'* Don't ask me," he replied, "as, of course, I should
like to have you with me anywhere, but quite especially
on that tiresome, long, straight road."
" Then I don't see why I should not go."
"Nor I," he replied, "unless the fear of displeasing
Sigmund deter you."
"But," suggested Mina, "I can tell Sigmund you
hoped he would follow you."
"Yes, dear, do; and with Doris for a companion he
will enjoy himself supremely."
Mina forced a smile.
"I hope we sha'n't get a blowing-up for this frolic,"
said Frank, as Hilda's horse was led from the stable.
"From whom?" asked Mina. "Have you not told
me repeatedly that cousinsmightgoanywhere together ?''
A BIDE IN 8JBAB0H Of A BOUQUET. \ 119
'^Oh, welly 80 they c*n in England/^ he answered;
*'biit people here are so ridicaloosly prudish that one
never knows what one may do."
It seems Captain O'More fears Sigmnnd^s displea-
sure more than you do^ Hilda/' said Mina, ironically.
Frank raised his cousin to her saddle, and half smiled.
'^ Or/' she continued, ^ or is it Doris's disapprobation
that he dreads P'
This had more effect. Frank's color mounted to his
temples.
Hilda laid her hand on the mane of his horse as he
was about to mount, and said, earnestly, ' Would you
hesitate to take Doris with you to Forsteck ?"
^^Not for a moment," he answered, vaulting into his
saddle.
"And she would go with you?"
^ Undoubtedly; that is, if she felt inclined. And why
not? We have taken longer rides together both at
Garvagh and Westenried."
Hilda smiled, nodded to Mina, and let her horse bound
towards the gate of the yard, that a servant held open,
and in a few seconds she and her cousin were out of
sight.
It was singular that Mina made no mention of Hilda's
desire that her sister and Sigmund should follow her,
when informing the Waldorings of the excursion in
search of a bouquet.
" I never heard of any thing so foolish and giddy I"
cried the old countess, fanning herself vehomentlyi
thosgh the large room in which they were sitting was
any thing rather than warm. '^ Eeally, quite improper,
and enough to irritate Sigmund beyond measure."
Oh, not at all," he said, shrugging his shoulders;
^I am really so accustomed to Hilda's open preference
of Frank O'More, that I now scarcely perceive the
120 / AT OOM.
most marked demonstration of derotioa on her part
If Doris be satisfied with Frank "
' I see no reason for displeasure/' interposed Doris.
*fWhy should they not make a short excursion to obtain
a bonquet for this evening's ball ?"
^'For every possible reason/' said the Director, se-
verely. ^ Had yon all gone together, and openly, even
without consulting us, it would have been merely a par-
donable escapade; but a a ^an elopement of this kind
is highly reprehensible I You agree with- me, I am
sure V he said, turning to his sister-in-law.
I cannot attach much importance to their riding
home by Forsteck instead of returning with us," she
answered, quietly ; - *^ excepting perhaps that, as the
evening is cold and damp, a prolonged ride may give
flilda a cold."
^'And I," said Doris, have often, very often, been
out longer and later with Frank, and nobody called it
an elopement, or seemed to think it at all extraor-
dinary." V
' Excuse me,'' said the Director, but I can assure
you I very often felt inclined to express my disappro-
bation at .Westenried, and was silent only because I
supposed it a peculiarity of Englishwomen to ^to -"
To make use of their cousins?" interposed Doris,
laughing. That is actually the case ; and only imagine
my having had seven such cousins as Frank to obey my
orders for so many years at Garvagh 1 It was enough
to make a tyrant of me for life, and would, perhaps,
had I not eome to Westenried and seen Bigmund eiMct
implicit obedience from Hilda on ail occasions. It is
only lately that she has ventured sometimes in trifles to
dispute his authority, though I think she likes having
her own way even better than I do 1"
BIDS IN aSABOH 01* A BOUQUST. 121
^1 mti6t say/' observed the Dixeetor, tht tlie last
winter spent in Manich has not improTed her/'
'^ Nor me, perhaps V asked DMns.
*Nor you," he answered, gravely; "you hare both
become too conscions of yonr personal advantages, and
in a manner emancipated yourselves from all control/'
' My poor mother/' cried Doris, smiling, "what a pair
of wcn-tiiless daughters you have got I"
^ I am quite satisfied with you both/' answered her
mother, rising, " though I begin to wish that HOda had
at least gone to Forsteck an hour or two earlier: she
will have to ride hard to reach home before dark."
In the mean time Frank and Hilda gave themselves
BO BoH of concern about the waning daylight; they
rode on at a hard trot, talking and laughing merrily, so
that the long straight road was passed over unobserved,
and they were surprised when they found themselveB
close to the small tower at the end of the extensive
orchard of Forsteck, where Frank had spent the last
fortnight. At the door, which was slightly ajar, a dra-
goon stood waiting, or rather peering out, in expectation
of the arrival of his captain.
" All ready for a return to ITlm V asked Frank, as he
was about to follow Hilda up the narrow winding
staircase.
' "Captain, a word, if you please," said the man,
opening his eyes so wide, and looking toward Hilda
with such an expression of amazement and dismay, that
fiVank with difficulty repressed a smile.
"You and the men can remain here to-night/' he
said, turning baok for a moment; "but don't forget to
offer five guineas more for the bay mare at the mill
beiarB you leave in the morning; and a ^Huber
what do you mean by bringing the horses in here 1 We
are going to mount ftgain directly."
11
122 AT OOM.
1%e rottd to Ulm will not be safe for the Oountess
Hilda, captain, as there is a detachment of Frenoh reoon*
noi taring in the neighborhood/'
Confound them 1" cried Frank. " Why didn't they
eome in the morning when we were alone ? How strong
are they ?"
" Six-and-thirty light horse and an officer."
' We have munition/' murmured Frank, ' and some
days' provision too. If I only had Hilda safely in ITlm I
What am I to do with herf"
He had not time to consider; for, while one of the
horses still stood in the doorway, they heard the ap-
proach of cavalry, and before they had time to close
the door several men had dismounted and roshed
tnpiultuously into the tower."*"
Frank sprang up the stairs into his room, where Hilda
was calmly arranging her bouquet^ seized his pistols,
took down a musket from the wall, and^ telling her
hastily neither to look out of the window nor open the
door if she heard a noise, he returned to the staircase
in time to assist the corporal, who was nearly over-
powered by numbers. Three times he fired with such
astonishing rapidity, and so effectually wounded his
adversaries, that they threw down their arms and began
a hasty retreat. Some of his men, who had been in the
upper story, now hastened down the stairs ; others hur-
ried from the stable, and the door was soon effectually
barricaded.
Hilda had not remained so passive as Frank had
expected : she stood at the door of the room, and now
exclaimed, ' Frank, they have found the gardener's
ladder, and placed it against the staircase-window."
Before he could reach it, the head of an adventurous
Fact
A EIDB nr SSABOH OV A BOUQUXT. )29
youth became apparent through the small roimd panes
of glass.
^ Shoot him, captain/' cried the corporal, grimly.
'I'd rather not/' said Frank; hat he suddenly threw
open the window, seized the ends of the ladder, and, in
spite of the struggling Frenchman, dashed both with
all his force to the ground.
"Now let us look at the windows in my rooms: they
ean be reached in the same way as this, and we have
the two doors to defend also. Haber, post a man at
each, and one of you go up-stairs to look oat. Hilda^
ean you load a gun V
" No, Frank, bat I can learn."
^' That's a dear girl ; I knew you would make your-
self useful; wish you were at home, though, with all
my soul, but that can't be managed now.''
And they ran up the stairs together.
" Now, look here, Hilda, while I load these pistols. I
say, Huber, what's that noise below stairs ?"
' An attack on the stable-door, captain," shouted the
corporal.
Frank loaded, then made a bound to the window near
him, and fired.
Give me the other pistol, Hilda."
. She obeyed, and a horrible yell from below, mixed
with shouts and imprecations, followed the second shot.
"They're going at last," he said, slowly retreating
into the room ; but, even while he spoke, the carbines of
the whole troop were discharged in the direction of the
window. A couple of ballets struck the ceiling, and
sent down a shower of mortar; and while Frank threw
his arms round Hilda to shield her, another swept the
onlucky bouquet from the table beside him, shivering
the glass and dispersing fragments of flowers in all
directions.
124 AT OlMM.
^'Thegr are retreatingy" shouted tho. man from the
upper story, *' retreating with five wounded."
^ In what direction ?" asked Frank.
' iJlm."
They must have mounted the hay-cart to fire
the last volley/' cried Frank, turning towards the
window.
'0h, Frank, dear Frank, don't stand at the win-
dow again; it is much better to let them go away
quietly."
And/' he said, turning round,-^' and better for you
to go to the top of the tower in. case they should
return here. One of those bullets might have killed
you, Hilda r
Or you/' she answered, quickly, " especially the one
that hit the bouquet. I suppose," she added, anxiously,
' I suppose we must now wait until it is dark before we
return home f"
Longer than that, Hilda/' he answered, beginning
to reload his pistols.
"I don't mind waiting," she observed, " or riding at
midnight, if necessary; but you know, Frank, how
dreadfully uneasy mamma will be, and I would run any
risk rather than alarm her."
"The risk of being taken prisoner by the French ?" .
* Yes. My uncle says we have nothing to fear. I am
a Bavarian, you know."
"And what am I?" asked Frank, laughing.
" You think, then," she asked, " there might be actual
personal danger for you if taken prisoner ?"
"Eather beforehand/' he answered, "as I should
eertainly fight hard for my liberty. But it was not our
lives those men wanted just now, Hilda ; it was prison-
ers, ^if possible an officer who could give them inform-
ation : you understand V*
A BIDS IN SSABOH Of A BOUQUXT. 12$
^'I believe I do; but, on account of mj i^iother and
Boris, we mast at least send the gardener to Ulm/'
'^ Of course, if he come here ; but I cannot risk or
spare a man to look for him, dear Hilda, as we are
barely enough to defend the place, and may be at-
tacked again before morning. Don't, however, make
yourself unhappy; I am sure Fallersberg will miss us
at the ball to-night, and send or come to relieve us."
" And I am sure mamma will send for him at once,''
said Hilda.
''Most probably,'' he answered, closing the outside
window-shutters carefully, and afterward the window
itself. "I should think," he continued, "she will
scarcely hesitate in a case of thia kind."
" In any case, Frank ; for there is no one of whom
she thinks so highly as Captain Fallersberg."
They were just then in complete darkness, but Frank
was striking a light with flints and the other materials
then necessary for the now so simple operation, and
when his candle was lighted he held it low for the pur-
pose of making the staircase visible, up which he led
the way, while saying, " You will be much safer in the
attic, Hilda, and as soon as I have examined the doors
and windows^ and given some directions, I shall come
up and sit with you."
The tower, which was the last remnant of what had
once been a castle, and was only separated by extensive
gardens and an orchard from the new residence, had
very thick, rough walls, a narrow stone staircase
lighted by extremely small windows, two rooms on
each story, and attics almost quite unfurnished, in
order to have place enough for seeds, bulbs, flower-pot^
and gardening-implements.
' We'll carry up some things to make you comfort^
able'by-aitd-by," said Frank, pushing all the carefully^
11*
126 AT ODDS.
orted seeds ftom the deftl table, and drawing a stool
towards her; '' and, after aU, it will not be worse her
than in the vaults of the Chapel-island, where you were
obliged to take shelter from your friends the jbVenchy
some years ago r
^They are neither friends nor enemies just now^
Frank. We intend to be neutral, because our Grown
Prince Louis is still in Paris.''
Don't . imagine/' rejoined Frank, ''that Ni^Kdeon
will allow you to be neutral, no matter how mi^oh
you may wish it : say allies, and you will be nearer the
mark."
* Well," she said, " and why not ? My uncle sa3rs
the Austrians have noright to compel us to join them^
or force us to commence a new war after all we have
suffered."
' But I tell yon," said Frank, seating himself astride
on a plank supported by blocks of wood, I tell you
you are too weak to defend yourselves and preserve
your neutrality, and we have promised to guarantee
the inviolability of all your possessions at the conclu-
sion of the war I"
^ Oh, indeed I You will allow us to retain what we
already possess I But we don't choose to have the law
laid down to us in that way, I can tell you I"
'* Don't you ?" cried Frank. " I suspect you'll learn
to find the commands of a French Emperor harder than
were ever those of a German."
I don't think we shall," retorted Hilda, delighted to
find herself talking like her uncle, and able to irritate
her cousin. " Your Emperor required us to give up all
independence, and put our army altogether under his
orders."
Of course," said Frank, and Napoleon wUl do the
A BIBS IN SSAMH Off A BOUQUST. 12T
'^ICy uncle i
^1 don't iTTiant to hear what your uncle says/' eried
Fraak, starting up so energetically that the wooden
supporters of his plank rolled to the other end of the
room. " Why can't you ^ve your opinion as Doris
does, instead of making a parrot of yourself, and re-
peating other pei^e's words? Have yon no ideas of
your own, Hilda V*
Plenty/' she replied, her voice trembling with anger
and mortification; ^'rnore than you will like to hear,
perhaps. Taking you as a sample of an Austrian
officer^ one can quite understand a refusal to serve under
them, and I don't require to learn from my uncle what
everybody knows, that you are likely to be defeated
in this war. Prussilt is neutral, the Bussians ever so
far away, and the French are here, and commanded by
Kapoleon, whose name is an army in itself I"
I need not ask what your hopes and wishes are,"
said Frank, biting his lip, ^* but I trust I shall live to
hear you speak differently/'
"Of what importance are the words of a parrot T'
she asked, ironically.
** Hilda, I am very sorry. I really did not mean "
' You meant what you said, and were so rude that I
should be very glad if you would go away, and not
annoy me with your company until you come to take
me home."
' You shall be implicitly obeyed. I have no wish to
force my society on you or any one," said Frank, leav-
ing the room in high dudgeon.
Before he was half-way down the stairs, he felt the
absurdity oi quarreling with his youthful cousin he*
cause she happened to have adopted the political opi-
nions of her uncle and the man to whom she was about
to be united in the course of a few weeks. He turned
128 AT ODDS.
roiiDd, and, with hasty Bteps, remoonted to the door of
her room, but found it bolted from within, and no en-
treaties on his part eooid indace her to open it, or even
reply to his apologies.
The fiict was, Hilda did not choose him to see that
she had indulged in a hearty fit of ciying, which was
renewed as he again began to descend the stone steps.
"I knew ^he did not care for me" she sobbed; "but
I- did ^not ^think he snpposed me a mere repeater of
other people's words ^an idiot ! I will show him that
I have ideas and opinions ^and and a will of my
own, too I Oh, how I wish I had not come here with
him I What will mamma say? and my uncle? And
Sigmund, who is so jealous and suspicious, will of
course think, and perhaps say, that I wanted to have a
Ute-d^ite ride with Frank I And even Frank himself may
imagine ^but no he only called it a frolic, and it would
have been nothing else but for these odious French sol-
diers, who are just now really my enemies, though I
nave been foolish enough to quarrel with Frank about
themr
CHAPTBE XV.
WHAT PEOPLE SAID.
Meantime the Walderings drove homewards, at first
quickly enough, then obliged to pass slowly difl'erent
detachments of cavalry, and finally they were detained
for more than an hour at the gate of the town by the
entrance of troops into it. During their absence their
house had assumed the appearance of a barrack : the
court, offices, corridors, and apartments were filled
WHAT FBOPXA SAID. 129
wiUi Bol^ni. In the drawiAg-Toom a ffwanxi of oAoem
bad assembledy talking loudly and gesticulating ea
gerly; and when Sigmund and his &ther advanced into
the midst of them^ they were at once informed that
twenty thousand men were that night to be quartered
in XTlm, and no householder could be spared the inflic-
tion of additional soldiers being billeted on them. They
would, however; answer for the good conduct of their
men, and that nothing in or about the house should be
injured.
' May I ask/' said the Director, looking round the
disordered room, where caps and hats and swords and
sabers lay in heaps, and even Doris's harp had been
turned into a cloak-stand, ''may I ask the cause of
this sudden influx of military V
The answer was more intelligible to Sigmund than
to his fhtber, who^ however, understood that some dis-
location of troops had become necessary in coDse*
quence of the approach of Ney and Soult at one side
and Kapoleon himself at the other; while Doris and
her mother, still lingering near the door, heard with
dismay that detachments of cavalry had been seen that
afternoon reeonnoitering in the neighborhood of BU
ehingen.
'*We have just come from Elchingen, and have
heard nothing of the kind/' observed the Countess
Waldering.
'' Nevertheless/' answered one of the officers, '^ it is
reported that Ney is in that direction ; but," he added,
on perceiving her alarm, ** but the information may not
be correct."
"Let us send for Captain Pallersberg/' she said,
anxiously.
"Pallersberg is not in Ulm just now/' answered
another officer, coming forward; ^'but if you will tell
180 AT ODD6.
me iht cause of yoiur imeMmeflB perbape I can be of
vee."
She related that her daughter had made an excursion
to Forsteck for some flowers, and she feared she might
find it difficult to return home.
'' Forsteck r he repeated; that is where O'More
has been for the last ten days collecting horses, and he
told me yesterday he intended to return this evening.
Mademoiselle will meet him there, and could not have
a better escort."
' Of course she will have his escort,'^ said the Di-
rector; " but he may be overpowered by numbers."
' Then," replied the officer, smiling, we must hope
that he will defend himself in the old tower until we
can send troops to raise the siege."
* This is no jesting-matter," said the Director, testily;
O'More is so reckless that he might blow up the tower
if unable to defend it, or make some wild sally that
might cost my niece her life !"
" Oh, mother I" cried Doris, greatly agitated, '^ let us
go to Forsteck and save her, or share her fkte I"
'*Not for the universe!" cried Sigmund, suddenly
roused from a state of apathy that had appeared
unaccountable to them all, excepting, perhaps, Mina
Pallersberg, whose eyes had been fixed intently on
him alone. "Why," he continued, "why should
you incur danger for Hilda's willful and wild con-
duct? And of what use could you be? I will go
myself to Forsteck, and defend her from the conse-
quences of an indiscretion that I shall scarcely be able
to pardon."
" Sigmund !" cried Doris, as he passed her, " Sigmund,
do not judge Hilda too harshly. I am convinced sh^
expected hoped we should follow her. Is it not so,
Mina?"
WHAT m/PJM BAU. 181
" Very probftUy/' she answOTed, coldly.
^ No, Doris/' he said^ bending down towards her, and
whispering eageriy, ** no, she wished to be with Frank|
and will gladly brave the danger if shared with him ;
and I I ^interfere now wholly on year accoont, for
it is torture to me to see you suffer a moment's nn-
easiness.''
Doris drew baok, equally surprised and shocked at his
vehemence, while his grandmother, tapping him on the
shoulder with her fan, observed, ' 60, mein Schatz: you
are the best emissary that can be employed on this
occasion. Should you fall into the hands of the French^
there is no danger either for you or your^ano^, and
your presence will save her from all the scandalous
reports and town-talk to which her etourderie would give
rise should she be unable to return home before her
absence is observed."
Sigmund shook off the approval-tapping &n, not, per*
hapsy quite pleased to have his ride to Forsteck placed
in so unhazardous a light, and left the room without
answering.
The others followed, and when the door had closed on
them the officers looked at each other meaningly, and
then made some knowing grimaces.
^' He has carried off the heiress, by Jove I" exclaimed
one.
'' Always thought he'd do it/' said another.
It's the way of these Irishmen/' observed a thirdi
'' and is a &mons stepping-stone to promotion. O'More's
always in lu^, at all events, -continually getting into
scrapes that would ruin other fellows, but which in*
variably turn out to his advantage. Now, were one of
us at Forsteck, we might be overpowered, taken pri^
soner, and perhaps on our way to France before any
ome bere would Uiiok it necessary to make an dfort to
Ut AT O0M.
Mve us; bat O'More gOM off with a young h^irsM, and
tlM whole town and ganriaon will be in alarm a few
boon henoe."
' Alarm or not/' aaid an elderij officer, who was
buckling on his sword preparatory to leaying the room,
' it will be some days before we shall have time to think
of him. The Archduke Ferdinand is expected, the
movement of the troops must be completed, and then
perhaps a retreat into Tyrol taken into consideratiHi/'
** The marshal will not listen to the word ' retreat,'
though our forces do not amount to the half of the
French," observed a youthful lieutenant. He says the
fiussians must be here before long, and we can hold oat
until they come."
*^ Or" said the other, striding toward the door, *^ or .
until the town is bombarded."
That 5th of October was an intranquH night in Ulm,
though to the honor of the Imperialists it must be
observed that scarcely any European army oould have
been suddenly quartered in like numbers on the inhabit-
ants of a town of such limited dimensioiis without giving
cause for bitter complaints. So exemplary, however,
was their conduct that not one serious transgression is
on record.
At the most brilliant and most crowded of the balls
that evening, the Walderings' absence was observed, and,
the fiimily having hitherto occupied a promin^it pomtion
on such occasions, Hilda's unfortunate ride, with many
additions, soon became the chief topic of conversation.
Some laughed, and talked of etourdenej others looked
sagacious, and suggested that as the young countess had
shown plainly enough how greatly she preferred Captain
O'More to Count Sigmund, the ride might have been a
bold stroke to break off her engagement to one ooara
in order to be at liberty to marry the other. It was sin-
WHAT PEOPLE .SAID. 133
gular that none seemed to think the near relationship
of Frank and Hilda sufficient to render their heing pri-
soners together for a few days a mere matter of annoy-
ance and prohable personal danger; though in point of
fact the connection is considered nearer in the Boman
Catholic states of Germany than in England, as is made
evident by a dispensation from the Pope being abso-
lutely necessary for the marriage of such relations.
Doris and her mother found a melancholy consolation
during the night in thinking that Sigmund was with
Hilda, and that they could return home together the
next morning without much danger, even supposing
the French in the immediate neighborhood ; but when
neither they nor any tidings reached home during the
early-part of the day, maternal anxiety overcame all
other considerations, and, refusing steadily Doris's en-
treaties to be allowed to accompany her, the countess
drove off alone to Forsteck, while the Director went to
head-quarters to seek whatever assistance could be pro-
cured. The former was met and sent back by a French
patrol long before she had reached her destination ; the
latter was informed that an order had already been given
for some squadrons of cuirassiers to clear the countiy
in the direction of Elchingen. This may have been
done; but the prisoners in the Forsteck tower were not
released until Captain Pallersberg returned to TJlm 'at
the end of the week, and was given permission to recon-
noiter in the neighborhood. A detachment of Frank's
own regiment risked a detour to the tower, and brought
him and his cousin back in a sort of triumph after a suc-
cessful skirmish with some French horse, in which it was
declared that Hilda had behaved with astonishing hero-
ism, and that, having made every evolution with perfect
precision, she had not embarrassed them in the least.
Her explanation that her horse had learned to stand fire
12
134 AT ODDS.
and knew his duty was not allowed to detract from her
merit, and, like a general surrounded by a numerous
staff, she galloped through the streets to her home.
There she raised her hand, in playful military salute^ to
her beaver hat^ from which the long feather had actually
been shot away an hour previously, and then disappeared
under the archway^ to spring to the grqund and be
clasped in the arms of her mother and sister, whose
pale anxious &ces formed a strong contrast to her
sparkling eyes and wild state of excitement.
"Oh, my dear mother!" she exclaimed, as they
mounted the stairs together, " I have been in a state of
despair "
"I can easily imagine it, my poor child,'' said her
mother, interrupting her with a caress : " what appre-
hension and anxiety you must have endure4 during the
last six days !"
" On your account and Doris's, dear mamma, ^more
than I can express."
" It must have been a great relief to your mind when
Sigmund joined you," continued her mother, leading the
way to the drawing-room: "we only beard from him
to-day to say he would return this evening. Why is he
not with you ?"
*^He did not come to us at all, mamma; though
Frank suspects he might have done so had he wished
it."
" What do you mean, dear Hilda ?"
"Sigmund was intercepted on his way to us, and
made prisoner by a Captain d'Esterre, who took him to
Gundelfingen."
"How did you hear that?"
"This Captain d'Esterre allowed him to send a
peasant with a note to desire me to keep Frank quiet,
as there were French patrols between us and Ulm."
WHAT PEOPLE SAID, 135
"Mamma/' said Doris, "that French captain is Louis
d'Esterre, I am quite sure/'
"Very probably; but go on, Hilda. Why did you
not send the gardener here ?"
" Of course I did, and he attempted to get to XJlm several
times with a letter from me hid in baskets of fruit and
vegetables, but was always found out and sent back
again. Frank suspects that Sigmund was at the bottom
of it all r
"In what way?"
"He says he must have been perfectly explicit with
this Captain d'Esterre, who undoubtedly is the French
emigrant that lived so long at Garvagh, otherwise we
should certainly have been attacked more frequently
and forcibly. Frank said from the first they only wanted
a prisoner who could give them military information,
and he is sure that Sigmund told all that was necessary.
Frank and I had a desperate quarrel about politics, but
I could not attempt to defend Sigmund, it is so abomi-
nable his telling about the incompleteness of the works
round TJlm, and Marshal Mack's indecision concerning
a retreat into Tyrol!"
" Frank is by no means certain that Sigmund has done
so," observed her mother.
"He says there can be little doubt of it; otherwise
this D'Esterre would have considered it his duty to turn
back and take us prisoners, disagreeable as it would
have been to him. He thinks also that Sigmund could
have obtained permission to return to XJlm had he de-
sired it, and ought, at all events, to have made an effort
to come for me, instead of writing hypocritical letters
deploring my equivocal position and fearing that people
inight put a false construction on what he could assure
me he still tried to consider mere etourderie on my part !
Did you ever hear any thing so absurd ? Frank told mo
136 . AT ODDS.
not to make myself unhappy, for that people had other
thiogs to think and talk about just now/'
Perceiving her mother and sister look very grave,
Hilda added, ^^ And you think so too, mamma V
"I wish I could; but it is not so, Hilda; you have
been talked of and judged most unkindly/'
" In what way ? what could they say ?"
The Director, who had been standing unperceived in
the doorway of an adjoining room, answered, severely.
" They said you preferred Frank to Sigmund, and had
eloped with him a VAnglaise r
Hilda seemed overwhelmed wfth consternation at
these words. Pale and trembling, she caught the back
of the nearest chair, and gasped, " I could not ^foresee
that I that we should be imprisoned. He I we
never thought "
" Yeiy likely not/' said her uncle; "but other people
view this affair most unfavorably; and I should scarcely
be surprised if, after so flagrant a breach of decorum,
Sigmund should no longer think himself bound to fulfill
his engagement to you." '
" I shall not ask him," replied Hilda, haughtily ; " he
might have told you that I proposed breaking it off the
day before we went to Eichingen/'
" Your position is now quite different from what it
was then," replied her uncle; "and you will have reason
to be grateful to Sigmund if he can be induced to save
you from the only alternative that now remains to
silence slander and preserve your reputation."
" And what is the alternative ?" she asked, quickly.
^^For, though Sigmund's opinion is henceforward a
matter of indifference to me, I am ready to do any thing
to prove myself blameless in the eyes of others."
"That is no longer possible," said her uncle; "and
WHAT PEOPLE 8AID. 137
therefore I advise you to appeal to Sigmund's generosity,
and "
'*Aiiy thing rather than that!" cried Hilda, vehe-
mently.
" Then/' said the Director, " you have but to explain
the state of the case to your cousin Frank, who will see
at once that he cannot do otherwise than ^propose to
marry you himself I"
" No, no, no ! ^never, never !" she cried, passionately;
and then, rushing forwards, she threw herself on her
knees beside her sister, and burst into tears.
The Director left the room, and a long and painful
pause ensued, during which Hilda's slight figure shook
with convulsive sobs, and was only prevented from fall-
ing prostrate on the ground by her sister's supporting
arm.
" That speech about Sigmund was quite unnecessary,"
said Doris, addressing her mother.
" I don't care about it," interposed Hilda, raising her
head with evident effort; "for I had resolved, at all
events, to break off my engagement with him. I never
liked, and now almost hate, him. Without having made
an effort to save me from the consequences of my
thoughtlessness, he wHl now condemn and be the first
to injure me in the eyes of the world, though he knows
as well as you do that under Frank's protection I was
as safe, ^far safer than in his ; for Frank would have
periled his life to save mine. Oh, mother, speak to us,
bnt do not say that Doris and Frank must be sacrificed
to save me from ignominy T'
"Ignominy is too strong a word," said her mother,
coming towards her ; " but I greatly fear that all the
distressing trials to which a blighted reputation is liable
-will be your portion, my poor child, if Sigmund cannot
12*
188 AT ODDS.
be induced by his father to fulfill his engagement to
you."
" Do not name him/' cried Hilda, waving her hand
impatiently, with an expression of strong aversion:
"had I the power now, I would refuse him ten thousand
thousand times! Has he not told me^ without an
attempt at reserve, that he cannot love me as he does
Doris It and did he not listen with perfect indifference to
my confession that " Here she stopped suddenly,
clasped her hands above her head, and hid her face on
her sister's knee.
And Doris's pale features became perfectly white,
while her eyes sought her mother's in expressive inter-
rogation. A compression of the lips and two or three
sorrowful inclinations of the head denoted immediately
afterwards that she had received a confirmation of long-
entertained suspicions, and then, bending down, she
whispered, "You told him, dear, that you loved Frank?"
Hilda's fingers seemed to clasp tighter, but she did
not move or make an attempt to answer.
During the pause that ensued they became aware of
Sigmund's arrival by hearing him speak to a servant in
the ante-room.
" I cannot let him see me in this state," cried Hilda,
rising hastily from her kneeling position and pushing
her disheveled hair from her face. " It will be better
to write than to speak to him ; for I might say more
than is necessary, and he might answer what I never
could forgive or forget."
When Sigmund opened the door, he saw the three
retreating figures in an adjoining room ; but, though he
spoke, not one of them stopped, answered, or even looke4
round as if conscious of his presence.
WHAT DOBIS DID. 180
CHAPTBE XVI.
WHAT DOBIS DID.
Befobe Frank again saw his aunt and cousins, he had
become unpleasantly acquainted with the calumnies to
which Hilda's detention in the tower at Porsteck had
given rise. Her position, as sole heiress to one of the
oldest patrician families of TTlm^ had been sufficiently
conspicuous to make her words and actions the subject
of discussion to the inhabitants of the town and its en-
virons, in a manner of which neither she nor her nearest
relations had had the slightest idea ; so that her uncle's
words were, in fact, but an echo of the rumors that had
at first been whispered and then loudly and unreservedly
repeated during her absence. If the officers of the gar-
rison of Ulm thought her in the right to prefer their
daring handsome comrade to the not very popular Count
Waldering, the mode of expressing this opinion was
highly offensive to Frank, who considered Hilda's name
compromised by their jests and insinuations: angry
words had ensued, satisfaction had been demanded and
given with a promptitude peculiar to those times.
Commanding officers had business more important than
making minute inquiries concerning the wounds of men
whose lives were daily exposed to danger by the imme-
diate vicinity of the enemy; so that Frank, quite unmo-
lested, defended the fame of his cousin at the point of
his sword no less than four times in one week, while a
duel with pistols had only been frustrated by a cannon-
ball having killed his adversary a few hours before the
time appointed for the meeting.
140 AT ODDS.
It woald be difficult to describe tbe recklessness with
regard to human life then prevalent; but Captain Pol-
lersberg at length thought it his duty to interfere in
the most effectual manner by informing the Walderings
without reserve of all that had occurred.
Now, Frank's refusal to resign Doris, and his uncere-
monious manner of declining to discuss ' the elopement/'
as both the Director and Sigmund persisted in calling
the unlucky sojourn at Forsteck, ^had led to scenes that
had ended in his first leaving the house and then ab-
staining altogether from even visiting there. Doris
now wrote to request his return to them, saying that
any appearance of a quarrel with him would only serve
still more to injure Hilda, who, however, insisted on his
ceasing to consider it necessary to defend her either in
word or deed, and, to prevent further conflicts, they had
resolved to leave Ulm for Tyrol, if the removal were
still practicable.
Frank found this note on his table in Pallersberg's
room as they entered it together late at night, after a
sharp engagement with the army of observation under
Ney. The Imperialists had forced the French to retreat
with great loss of men and baggage ; and Frank and
Pallersberg, having afterwards formed part of the escort
of some hundreds of prisoners, who, after much delay
and difficulty, had been quartered in the Latin school-
houses of the overfilled town, were among the last to
reach their rooms, a good deal fatigued, but still in a
state of considerable exultation.
" From Doris !" cried Frank, eagerly taking up the
note, seating himself at a table, and drawing a candle
towards him.
^'Pallersberg," he said, after a pause, "it seems that
"some infernal gossip has been unnecessarily communi-
WHAT D0BI8 DID. 141
cativo concerning me, for Hilda forbids my fhrtber in-
terference in her affairs."
" I am glad of it," said Pallersberg, " for your quixotic
encounters have been any thing but advantageous to
her."
"1 have, at least, insured silence on the subject of the
tower at Forsteck, Pallersberg."
"Silence in your presence, yes; and that maybe a
satisfaction to you; but what advantage is it to her?
Can you silence the inhabitants of Ulm and its neigh-
borhood for miles around ? Can you silence the garrison
or the Bavarian chevau-legers ofScers now at Elchingen,
or even Sigmund Waldering himself?"
"He's a scoundrel!" cried Frank; "a sanctimonious
scoundrel, who won't fight 1"
*' Oh, you've tried him, have you?"
Frank was silent.
" Sigmund has many faidts," said Pallersberg, " but
want of courage is not one of them. Believe me, the
fear of displeasing your cousin Doris alone influenced
him on this occasion."
"Doris?"
"He loves her,'* said Pallersberg, ^"has loved her for
years."
"I know that," answered Frank; "every one loves
and admires her, as a matter of course ; but all I can
say is, if a cousin or even a brother of Doris's said half
as much to me as I did to Sigmund when speaking
about his conduct to Hilda, I "
"You," interposed Pallersberg, "you would have
given yourself the satisfaction of either shooting him,
or being shot by him, without for a moment considering
the consequences to the cousin you professed to love."
"Now, don't preach to-night, Pallersberg, for I'm very
tired," said Frank, stretching out his legs, "and so
142 AT OBDB.
hnngry that I feel rather inclined to he quarrelsome
than otherwise."
"I am sorry to hear .that," said Pallersbergj "for I
must give you my opinion of the state of your affairs
before we part company."
" Part company ! wh&t do you mean ?"
*' I mean that you must return to the house of your
aunt, or your cousin, whichever you choose to call it."
"Ha! what's this?" cried Frank, referring to Doris's
note; "by Jove, you're the fellow who revealed my
misdoings to my aunt and Doris !"
"Yes," said Pallersberg, quietly; "you see in me
the * infernal gossip' who wished to prevent you from
losing your own life or taking that of others unneces-
sarily."
" Halt !" cried Frank, angrily ; " no, ^go on ; you may
say what you please."
"I believe I may," continued Pallersberg; "for, be-
sides being the * gossip,' you would also find me a * sanc-
timonious scoundrel' if an occasion should present
itself."
" Do you mean that if I provoked you, you wouldn't
" I would not," said Pallersberg.
"On account of my aunt, I suppose ?" said Frank.
" Just so. I can scarcely imagine your inducing me
to do any thing that would make me forfeit her esteem."
"All right!" said Frank; "I wish we had something
to eat."
"And I," said Pallersberg, with some annoyance, "I
wish you would listen to what I have to say, without
reminding me that you are still a boy I"
^GrO on, then, old fellow," cried Frank, laughing;
"you're a man, but I suspect just now as hungry as 1
am!"
WHAT DOBIS DID. 145
' Shall I ask the people of the house if they can give
VLB any thing V said Pallersherg, turning to the door.
" No; ril hear you out, and have done with it. What
has my aunt desired you to say to me f"
"Nothing; I was about to give you my own opinion."
" Out with it, then," cried Frank, impatiently.
" And offer you some advice."
" Offer as much as you please, but don't expect me to
take more than I like. For instance, if you were to
advise me to give up Doris and stop the evil-speaking,
lying, and slandering of the inhabitants of XJlm by mar-
rying Hilda, I should simply say no I"
"And I," said Pallersherg, ^ should remind you that
on all occasions, and especially when these inhabitants
of Ulm were present, you paid such marked attention
to your cousin Hilda that Sigmund's patience astonished
me as much as it did other people, and I never doubted
that the detention at Forsteck would be used by you
both as an excuse to break off a previous engagement,
the fulfillment of which had so evidently become irk-
some."
" You mean Hilda's and Sigmund's," said Frank; "but
mine with Doris "
*^ Was not known," answered Pallersherg; "was not
even suspected. Mademoiselle O'More has never shown
the slightest preference for you in public that is not
perfectly consistent with your relationship ; while Hilda
has unconsciously betrayed her feelings to all the world.
I can assure you, Frank, that under other circumstances
I should be the last to urge your marriage with her, or,
indeed, any one, until you have become steadier."
"That," said Frank, "was precisely what I meant
when I told Doris she must wait until I was a colonel."
''And," asked Pallersherg, *'and she made no objec-
tion to the arrangement ?"
144 AT ODDS.
"None whatever; was quite glad of the pnt-off, I
Bnspect; Doris is not a marrying girl !"
And yoa are satisfied with this qniet passionless sort
of regard ?"
" Why not ? it is very convenient just now."
" And, for the sake of a person whose indifference you
acknowledge, our heautiful young heiress is to be made
unhappy for life I"
'^ Doris is not indifferent; she does not parade her
affection, that's all. And the short and long of the
matter is, I won't marry and give up my profession
for any woman in Christendom."
" You need not give up your profession," suggested
Pallersberg.
'^ i know better," said Frank : " Doris could never be
induced to move about with a regiment."
" Of course not," replied Pallersberg : " you would
not ask, nor would she ever propose, such a thing. Hilda
thinks differently, is willing to accede to any arrange-
ment you may propose."
" You would find it difficult to convince me that she
said so," replied Frank, ironically.
" Her mother seemed to have no doubt on the subject,
and authorized me to speak to you."
" And," asked Frank, coloring deeply, " and was Doris
present when my aunt said this ?"
" No, we were alone; but what matters it? Has not
Mademoiselle O'More released you from your engage-
ment to her ? Has she not (I must say, nobly) declared
that she will not be an impediment to her sister's hap-
piness ?"
** Yes," said Frank, bitterly, " it was some such fine
phrase that drove me from the house."
"To which, however, you will now return, for apjpear-
ance' sake," said Pallersberg, persuasively.
WHAT DOBI8 DIB. 146
^ For appearance' sakeP repeated Fraxik: ^'willny
reinrn be really of use to Hilda V
" Most undoubtedly/' replied Pallersberg: ''not only
your return, but, if possible, your appearance with her
in public, and avoidance of any thing like disunion with
her family."
'' You may be right/' said Frank, thongfatfblly, ''and
I am certainly bound to do all that I can. Yes, Pallers*
berg, I will go, and at once, ^though I would &r rather
storm one of the enemy's batteries than mount the
staircase of that old comer-house just now.''
He threw his cloak over his shoulders while speaking
the last words, and strode towards the door.
'' Will you not make some change in your dress before
meeting your aunt and cousin?" asked Pallersberg.
'^ Ko ; but tell Hans to pack up, and follow me as soon
SB he can."
" Halt, Frank ; you really have no idea how wild you
look, bespattered with mud and blood."
Can't help it," said Frank : "the other coat may be
dry, but it is ii^no better condition than this one ; and,
in short, I don't know where to find it. At all events, my
aunt cim look upon a uniform in this condition without
disgust; and dear Boris must put aside her fastidious-
ness, and learn to brave the hardships of a siege, for
leaving XTlm, as she proposes, is now out of the question.
I shall have to tell her that there is much more likeH-J
hood of her sharing the rations of horse-flesh they
talked about at head-quarters this morning."
" I hope we may get them, Frank," said Pallersberg :
horse-flesh, or any thing that will enable us to hold
out until the Eussians arrive."
I would rather fight out than hold out," said Frank.
^^The Archduke says if we are not strong enough to
giwe baitie, there is no use in crowding the town with
18
146 AT ODDS.
caTftljy ; nod, if he leave Ulmy I hope we may be com-
manded to go with him.''
"Not much chance for you, Frank; for, eince your
proficiency in French has been discovered, you may
expect to be employed continually as scrivener and in-
terpreter. But now return to your relations without
(brther delay; it is so late that they may have already-
left the drawing-room."
"Just what I should like," answered Frank, hurrying
down the stairs into the cold wet streets.
The entrance to the Waldering house was open, and
a soldier who stood before the door was speaking to
others employed within, where the vaulted space at the
foot of the staircase had been converted into a -stable.
Hallo, KorinskyT' cried Frank to a young officer
who was passing him with a hasty salute, '^doyou know
if Klenau's wounds are dangerous V
''No, yes; that is, I don't remember. My brother
has just died, O'More ; and, as they want his bed, poor
fellow 1 1 have proposed removing him to the garden.
May we not leave him in the pavilion there until morn-
ing r
" Of course ; of course," said Frank : " I hoped his
wounds were not mortal, as he kept his saddle after the
charge."
A few steps farther on Frank drew aside to let the
officers pass who were carrying the body of their com-
rade down the stairs ; and, as he mechanically raised
his hand to his forehead, while gazing at the lifeless
figure, it would have been difficult to decide whether
the grave salute was intended as a greeting for the
living or a mark of respect for the dead.
He found the entrance-door of the first story still
open, the light in the ante-room extinguished, but, on
groping his way to the drawing-room, perceived not
WHAT DOBn DIB. 147
only a small iii^t4amp bnrniiig, but besiide it a vax
taper, which he thought had more than probably been
placed there for him. Men especially young and house-
leas men are not very observant of the appearance
or furniture of rooms; but as Frank raised the taper^
and looked round him, he was unpleasantly struck by
the dreary aspect of the once cheerful apartment; so
much so that he found it difficult to convince himself
that the chairs, tables^ and curtains wore unchanged.
He did not perceive that the costly parquet floor, for-
merly polished and bright as a mirror, was now soiled
and rayless; that the various ornaments of an elabo*
rately rococo-famished room had been removed, and
that not a trace of the books or work of his aunt and
cousins remained; but the green-baize cloth thrown
over a marble table, and the ordinaiy writing-materials
strewed upon it, indicated plainly enough that the room
had been used as an office^ and was deserted by its
former inhabitants.
He walked as noiselessly as possible along the stone
corridor to his room, opened the door softly, and sud-
denly found himself in the presence of a young man,
who, with arms spread out on a table, held in his clasped
hands a small green-leather case, and gazed on the
miniature portrait that it contained so earnestly that
he did not look round until Frank stepped into the
room and almost stood beside him.
"D'Bsterre!"
" Francois r
And Louis d'Esterre sprang up and embraced Frank
with that unreserved demonstration of affection that
our countrymen reserve altogether for women. Frank,
however, had been long enough from home to submit
with very tolerable composure to a succession of kisses
from a bearded mouth j he did not feel disposed to re^
148 AT OVDB.
tvvii A%Oky Imt, Wftiting until the ^^aiHeiiement wm orer;
he stretdied oat his hand, sayingy ''Well^ old boy, what
has brought yon here V
'The chance of war/' answered Louis, shrugging
his shoulders. ' Taken prisoner, I bethought me of le
Comte Sigismmd de Waldering, et mafoi me vmldV*
'^ Speak English, Louis,'' said Frank, ''and don't
remind me that you are a frenchman, ^if you can
help it/'
''JVon, mon ami; I have not forgot that English so
agreeably learned in your hospitable house, and," he
added, glancing towards the miniature on the table,
'' and this evening I have had much remembrances of
those hi^py times with cette chere et charmante Doris I"
" So it was her picture you were adoring just now f"
''Well guess! I have stealed it from the saion, and
will keep it if I dare."
" You had better ask permission," said Frank, greatly
irritated at no longer having the right to insist on its
restitution.
"She say," exclaimed D'Esterre, in a sentimental
voice, " she say we are ennemis, but she call me Louis V*
"Did she expect me this evening?" a^d Frank,
abruptly.
" Oh, yees. Did you not find the bougie and her j^
hULet telling you about the chambref*
"Petit MUet?" repeated Frank. " I must go and look
for it. Good-night I"
He left the room far less quietly than he had entered
it, and returned to the drawing-room, where he wondidred
greatly how he could have overseen a note so evidently
placed to attract attention, ^the light from the lamp
actually i&lling brightly on his name written in large,
distinct characters.
He seated himself on the sofa^ and read :
WHAT DORIB DIB. 149
' ^Inm (rare yon wiU eome^ and t hope 70a may find
and read these lines before going to yonr room, which
we have been obliged to give to Louis d'Esterre, who
was brought here by Sigmnnd. Mamma's dressing-
room has been prepared for your reception ; but if you
are not too tired I wish yon would wait where you find
this note until all is quiet in the house, as I shall then
make an eflFort to see you for a few minutes alone."
Frank extiuguished his taper, leaned back in the
comer of the sofii, gazed drowsily at the lamp for a few
minutes, then opened his eyes suddenly to their fullest
extent, and looked round the room as if determined not
to yield to the fatigue that was overwhelming him;
forced himself to sit upright for a short time^ and finally,
murmuring^ She won't mind/' stretched himself at fhll
length, and almost instantly was &st asleep.
So fast asleep that the sound of booted and spurred
fbet treading heavily not only on the stairs but in the
room above, the closing and locking of doors, and even
the entrance and approach of Doris herself, failed to
ronse or disturb Frank until she placed her candle on
the table, and, retiring behind the sofa on which he lay,
fixed her eyes steadily on his face, when an expression
of uneasiness passed over it, he breathed quickly,
moved, and the lightest touch of her hand was suffl*
cient to waken him completely.
I ought not to have asked you to wait for me,
Frank," she began, apologetically; "you must be so
dreadfully fatigued.''
'* Well, I have undoubtedly had some hard work," he
answered, smiling; under arms and mounted nearly
two-and-twenty hours. Nothing less would' have made
me fitU asleep, Doris, when I expected to see you."
^ I should not have been so unreasonable," she con
tinned, " were it not that this is the only time I can
13*
150 AT 0]H&
ie jM tikme wtthcmt esdting ibe woafMowf of
HUda."
^'SoapicionsI Hilda r
'^Yesy dear Frank; ahe fears I may be templed to
betray ^her^ a&d I am aboat to do bo: it is our last
ohanee/'
KoW| Doris dear, speak plainly and straightfiH^
wardly ; you know I am a bad band at enigmas."
To qeak plainly, tben, Frank, I most begin by
reminding yon of that unfortunate adventure wbkk
your late injudicious interference has only served to
make still more known to every one in Ulm and ita
vicinity."
I hope you are not going to talk i^in of that eorsed
old tower, Doris?" he began, impatiently.
"Not of the tJwer," she said, quietly, "but of your
and Hilda's imprisonu^nt in it."
"S'deathl" he cried, starting up, and beginning to
stride up and down the room ; have I not told you, and
my aunt, and every one, that I cannot be made answer-
Me for that t D-- the tower and every thing belong-
ing to it I May the French pillage, plunder, blast it to
atoms,*r-raze it to the ground I"
"All to no purpose," said Doris ; " the destruction of
the tower will neither deprive people of memory nor
(qpeech."
" It seems, however, Doris, that your memory is not
what it used to be, or," he said, stopping opposite her,
"or you would recollect all I said on this subject when
we parted, not quite amicably, about a week ago."
" I have not forgotten," she answered, seating herself
on the S0&, and with a slight gesture inducing him to
take the place be^de her; " I have not forgotten, but I
did not think it possible you would persist in your
refusal when yon were convinced that my resolution to
WHAT Wmm DIB. 151
tapeak off mt eagi^onieiii wmb inrerodftble. It aeemi,
however^ that we do not yet know each other."
* I am learning to know you/' said Frank ^ learning
also to believe Pallersberg when he calls yonr^regard
fir me quiet and paaBionless. Oh, Doris ! if yon really
and truly loved me, you could not resign me to any oney
^]iot evBn to Hilda V*
^ I woald not, I coold not, Frank, if--if I had not dk-
covered that Hilda loves yon devotedly, and as passion-
ately as-^as yon can possibly desire.''
To Doris's isarprise, Frank appeared neither astonished
nor dismayed at this oommnnieiation, which she expected
to have had the same effect on him as on herse^. An
air of bored consciousness was, however, ezpfessive
enough; and a sudden revulsion of feeling made her
eacdaim,^-^
''Frank, if you knew this before you went to Fw
stock, you have acted with unpardonable selfishness, and
are far more to blame than I believed possible 1"
'^ I knew nothing, and never thought about the mat-
ter," said Frank; 'the people here and Pallersberg
have been talking, but I hope they and you are mis*
taken."
' We are not mistaken ; there is no doubt whatever."
*' It is an infernal business altogether," said Frank,
^ and I shall end by becoming a victim to drcumstancea
over which I had no control."
"Then you consent?" cfried Doris, eagerly.
"I ^suppose ^I must; but it will prove a complete
reversion of the order of things if Hilda have to make
advances to me, and I try to return her affection,
when I can."
Doris stood up.
''Stay, Doris; you cannot expect me to make this
great sacrifice unconditionally. You must hear my sti-
Ifi2 AT WIMi.
pubktioiuu In the first plAoe, I wiH not give up ny
profession ^"
^' Yon need not/' she said, faintly.
** Nor will I live with Hilda for the next ten years."
^I dare say she will of ooorse she must consent
to this also/' replied Doris.
''Yon would/' said Frank; ''but then your regard
tar m9f I am now convinced, was merdy that of one
cousin for another.''
If it were not hitherto/' said Doris, her voice falter-
ing in spite of all her efforts to conceal her emotion,
''if it were not hitherto, it must be so henceforward."
' Doris! Doris!" he cried, passionately, "you would
show more feeling for me if you knew how much I value
a kind word or look from you ! Dispose of me as you
will/' he added, putting his arm round her, ' but let me
hear once more that you have loved me, do love me, and
will ever love me. Say that, in resigning me to satisfy
the prejudices of the world, you feel not only for me,
but with me."
'^I can say so, Frank, most truly/' she answered,
while large tears fell &st from her eyes in confirmation
of her words.
** I believe you," he said, rising,' '' and ask no more.
Hy aunt would call me selfish to wish it so, Doris; but
knre is selfish, and I love you, and have loved you more
than I ever knew, ^till now !"
" Let us hope, Frank, that time will reconcile "
'*No, Doris/' he cried, interrupting her; Hime will
make no change in me."
' It will/' she said, gently, ' in you and in me also,
and Hilda will never be quite conscious how much her
happiness has cost us; for I am sure, Frank, you know
me too well to think of attempting to prove yoar affec-
tion for me by an ostentatious neglect of her."
WHAT IXmiS'DID. IfiB
' Ab jonr sister/' he answered, ''and as mj eoMiiii I
liked her; bat, as a wife forced upon me, I hate her I"
* I am sorry you think it necessary to say so/' ob-
served Doris ; " but you know, dear Frank, it is not in
your nature to hate any woman, and,'' she added, with
a trembling smile, ''and espeeially one so young and
singularly attractive as Hilda."
Frank, like all men of action, ever more influeneed
by his feelings than his understanding, threw himself
impetuously at her feet, and, raising his clasped hands,
exclaimed,
''Hear me, Doris! I will give Hilda my hand and
name at your command ; but I swear by heaven that
neither ten years hence nor ever shall she be more to
me than "
''What madness is this!" cried Doris, interrupting
him. "Can you for a moment doubt that I desire her
and your happiness? Let me assure you that eveiy
effort on your part to conceal your repugnance to this
marriage I shall consider and value as a proof of per-
sonal regard for me."
Frank could not bring himself to believe this, but,
feeling suddenly the choking sensation in his throat
that usually precedes an outburst of grief, he made no
attempt to speak, let his head sink on his knee, and re-
mained perfectly motionless until Doris bent down and
pressed her lips on the only part of his forehead that
was visible. Perhaps he felt her tears; she saw his
chest heave violently, heard a sound that resembled a
suppressed sob, and hurried from the room, agitated and
shocked at an exhibition of feeling for which she had
been totally unprepared.
1S4 AT ovtm.
CHAPTBK XVII.
MAUT IN HA8TX| AND KXPSNT AT UISUBB.
AtTUt a few hours' repose, the inmates of the Wal-
dering house were onoe more up and beginning to move
about in the twilight of a foggy morning. Drums were
beating and trumpets sounding in a manner as intelli-
gible as speeoh to military ears^ and among the first who
hastened to obey these calls was Frank. He had seen
his aunt for a few minutes while breakfasting, had con-
firmed his promise of the previous night, and given his
aunt leave to make any arrangements she pleased as ir
as he was concerned, but declined remaining longer in a
house where the Direotorand Sigmund considered them-
selves at home.
" This house may be yours to-morrow, ^to-day, if you
wish it, Frank,'' she had suggested, quickly.
*A few ounces of lead from a well-handled Frendi
musket would be more acceptable to me just now," had
been his muttered answer when leaving ike room.
And long had been the consultation afberwards be-
tween Doris and her mother as to what Hilda might
be told, and what it would be absolutely necessary to
conceal from her, for some time at least'; the result
being that they would inform her that Frank had agreed
to the nuuriage, but as he would not consent to give up
his profession, and could not ezpect her to move about
with him under existing circumstances, it had been
arranged that she was to remain with tiiem until the
war was ended.
While Doris went to make this communication to
MABRT IN HA8T, ASI BBnBMT AT LSISUJEUE. 165
Hilda, her mother entered the adjoining room, where
Sigmnnd and his &ther were still lingering over their
breakfast, and though quite aware that the Director's
exasperation concerning Hilda had heen the work of
his son, and that she had latterly observed an nncon-
cealed diminution of his anger, she was nevertheless a
good deal surprised to find her present intelligence re-
ceived by him with a look of blank disappointment.
**1 rather expected you to rejoice with me at the
prospect of so satisfactory a termination to this un-
fortunate a&ir,'' she said, looking from one to the
other.
"Well ^yes I suppose it's all for the best," said the
Director, embarrassed ; " but a 1 must say Sigmund
has been hasty in this business, and, now that I am con-
vinced of poor dear Hilda's innocence "
"Of that," said hifi sister-in-law, interrupting him,
" I believe even Sigmund had no doubt."
"None whatever," said Sigmund; "but, as I could
not induce other people to take my view of the case,
you must acknowledge there was no alternative but
breaking off our engagement."
"Perhaps so; but it might have been done less
violently," observed his aunt, " and, at all events, with
some consideration for her and our feelings."
" I should have acted otherwise," answered Sigmund^
"if Hilda had not irritated me by her open preference
for Frank, and made me the laughing-stock of Ulm ever
since we have been here 1"
There was much truth in this remark, and she turned
to her brother-in-law while observing, "Eecriminations
are useless, and I am sure you will agree with me in
thinking that the sooner now this marriage takes place
the better."
" On that subject," cried Sigmund, eagerly, ^ there can
156 At ODDS.
be no doubt wbatever; for O'More is so tb^tiug^
man of impulse tbut any delay would be a risk/^
^^ On him we may rely/' she answered, with a sigh ;
* bat I think if ^ilda be giv^i much time for considera-
tion she will refuse to aocept the sacrifice her sister has
made for her."
' All this may be very fine/' said the Director, testily;
** but, I must say, if things had remained as they were,
it would have been pleasanter in the end for us all!
Sigmund would have had Hilda's fortune to put his
affiiirs in order, Frank O'More would not have been
incumbered with a wife, and we should have had the
undisturbed enjoyment of our charming Doris's society
for years to come; whereas now Hilda will wish to live
in Austria, in order to be near her husband, and yon and
Doris will follow her I"
^ We have at present no plans of the kind," she an-
swered; '' and I am even inclined to think that the state
of our finances will compel us to reside for some time
at Westenried."
'^ Ah ? ah ! ^that alters the case in some degree; and
with regard to the marriage, delay is useless if it be a
thing decided upon. We have only to substitute the
name of Frank O'More for that of Sigmund Count Wal-
dering in the various documents already in my posses-
sion, and every thing is in order. Permit me, however,
to suggest some changes in the pecuniary arrangements,
while reminding you that Sigmund's position and pros-
pects were very different from this young Irishman's,
who, a younger son and literally penniless, cannot pos-
sibly expect "
** I don't know what he expects/' she said, interrupt-
ing him; 'but I know what, under the circumstanoes,
he may claim as a right, and therefore request that the
arrangements may be precisely the same as proposed by
MAABT IN HASTE; AND KEPENT AT LEISUEE. 157
you for Sigmnnd, with the exception of the douhle per-
formance of the marriage ceremony : one will now be
sufficient ; and I believe we may appoint the Protestant
clergyman for this evening."
At this moment a servant entered^ bringing the report
from bead-quarters which Sigmund had requested the
officers then residing in the house to send him. It de-
scribed the engagement of the previous day with Mar-
shal Ney; said that, from intercepted papers, no doabt
could be entertained that the storming of the town had
been projected; mentioned that between eight and nine
hundred prisoners had been taken, and commended the
different regiments by name that had been engaged.
The Countess Waldering received at the same time a
request to furnish ninety rations of soup, to be sent as
soon as possible to the school-house, where the French
prisoners were in confinement.
She handed the paper to her brother-in-law, and asked,
with a look of perplexity, " Is that an order for to-day,
or for a time indefinite?"
"I don't know," he answered; "but you must send
the soup to-day, at all events."
'*Of course; our stores, however, are nearly ex-
hausted, and there is hardly any thing to be had in the
town now, excepting potatoes and cheese."
The Director turned to his son with a rueful expres-
sion of countenance, and observed, " We shall come to
the horseflesh at last! Who was it that told us it tasted
exactly like veal?"
" Pallersberg said so, I believe," answered Sigmund ;
" but, if the French gain the heights round the town, a
few shells will prove the impossibility of defending it for
any length of time."
^ Tou, of course, hopie it may be so,' observed his aunt,
vainly endeavoring to hide her annoyance; "but you
u
158 AT OPD8.
mnBt allow me still to think it poarible that theBaadaiui
may come to oar relief."
*^ I did not mean to oifend/' said Sigmnnd, apologeti-
cally^ 'and assure yoa. I only as ci-devarU soldier ven-
tured an opinion which may prove altogether erro-
n^ns."
I fear not," she replied, as it is entertained by
those who wonld rather think otherwise. However/'
she added| addressing the Director, to go from great
things to small ones, which more immediately concern
us, I suppose I may depend on your making the necea-
sary arrangements for this evening?"
Undoubtedly. But allow me to propose insuring
the appearance of the bridegroom, who may chance to
be on guard, or on picket, or whatever they call it.
You had better consult with him, or send to Captain
Pallersberg and request him to bring O'More to the
cathedral at four o'clock in the afternoon. As guard-
ian," he continued, walking with her to the door, I
should like to protest against this hurried maniagei
but "
" But," she said, interrupting him, "you feel, perhaps,
that you have no right to do so after having been the
first person to propose it."
** It was at Sigmund's instigation that I did so," cried
the Director. " His anger and jealousy were quite un-
governable."
"Not so," she observed: "he has long wished for a
plausible excuse to break off his engagement,, but would,
perhaps, have chosen another time and less unfeeling
means had he not had motives which made this oppor-
tunity, for various reasons, the most desirable ever likely
to occur."
" Well," said the Director, as the door closed, " she
MABRT IN HASTB, AND BSIENT AT LSIBVBS. 159
has much penetration, bnt this time has rather OTershot
the mark, I believe."
"Kot exactly/' said Signmnd: **I certainly had no
objection to a plausible excuse for breaking off my en-
gagement to Hilda, whose preference for Frank is
notorious ; but surely mine for Doris cannot have been
less well known both to you and my aunt, though
neither of you chose to appear conscious of it."
" Would you have wished it otherwise, Sigmund, when
Doris's indifference to you was so very evident? And
can you suppose you have the slightest chance, now
that this indifference will be converted into actual dia*
like by your conduct to her sister and its consequences
to herself?"
'* Dislike is more easily overcome than indifference/'
said Sigmund, confidently. " Let Frank be married to
Hilda, and leave the rest to me."
' I begin to wish you were all married/' said the
Director, as he walked to the other end of the room
and drew a chair towards his writing-table.
**Alir repeated his son, laughing; "whom do yott
mean by aU?"
" Every one, with the exception of your grandmother/'
was the answer.
"Yourself included?"
'* Why not? Men older than I am have married; and
will marry to the end of time. My sister-in-law says
that it is a pleasant infatuation of our sex to imagine
ourselves capable of inspiring affection even at the most
advanced period of life."
" Ha !" cried Sigmund; " Mina Pallersberg once hinted
that to you, ^but the idea is preposterous I"
'^ Quite so," said his &ther, without looking round;
^bnt Mina has a good deal of discernment in such
140 AT ODPB.
matten, and says that your plana now are also pre-
posterooB."
'^ Mina is a most intriguing, dangerous girl/' said Sig-
mand| '^and I wish my grandmother would send her
home to her parents, or otherwise dispose of her.''
' You were not always of this opinion/' observed his
father, drily.
Sigmund was silent.
^'But/' he continued, while arranging his papers,
*^ but that you have overcome any feeling beyond good
will and regard for her now, is very satisfactory."
' I do not feel a particle of either," answered Sig-
mund, ^' and repeat that I think her a most dangerous
and intriguing character. It is impossible to calculate
the mischief such a person can perpetrate in a family
like ours : so I hope when you wished us all married
Mina Pallersberg was included, in which case I can only
say, the sooner the better."
^ Be it so," said the Director. ''As, however, Hilda
happens to be the first, I must now take her afEairs in
hand, and without further loss of time. It will be a
dismal -business altogether, this marriage, and I wish it
were well over I"
* 4(
A few hours later the soup required for the French
prisoners was sent from the house, then an effort made to
supply the billeted officers and soldiers with a repast;
while the family assembled about the same time in a small
sitting-room overlooking the garden to dine, with a
frugality to which they were gradually becoming accus-
tomed. Hilda and Doris were not present; no one
seemed to expect them or consider an apology necessaxy ;
but when the Director saw his sister-in-law preparing to
MABRY IK HASTE, AND REPENT AT LEISURE. 161
retom to them, he drew out his watch and observed,
rignificantly, " I hope they are dressed, for we must soon
be on onr way to the cathedral.''
Scarcely had she closed the door when she heard the
stamping of horses and rolling of wheels on the paving-
stones of the yard, and, seeing a servant springing up
the stairs to announce the carriage, she entered her room,
not sorry to have a pretext for putting an end to the
painful situation in which her rival daughters had been
placed since the morning.
Doris was calm and self-possessed, perhaps the feel-
ing that she was acting magnanimously supported her,
^while Hilda, conscious of a latent satisfaction at the
prospect of a marriage with Frank under any circum-
stances, was thoroughly ashamed of her selfishness, and
felt deeply humiliated in accepting the sacrifice so un-
ostentatiously made by her sister.
Mamma," she said, hurriedly, ^ Doris says she thinks
Frank will be quite satisfied if I leave him perfectly at
liberty and do not interfere with his plan of remaining
in the army. The idea of being forced upon him In this
way is so dreadful, that, did I not know how much he
likes me, and had he not told me unreservedly a hun-
dred times that he loved me next best to Doris, I "
"Hilda!" cried the Director, knocking at the door,
** we are waiting for you!"
Doris," she said, clasping her hands and kneeling
before her sister, who was waiting to place a white vail
on her head, " dear Doris, say once more that you for^
give me."
"Bather let me again explain that I have nothing to
forgive, Hilda. Your ride to Forsteck with Frank really
requires no apology, and for what has since occurred
you cannot be made answerable."
Somewhat consoled by these words, Hilda rose, drew
14*
lt*J AT OBM.
her black velvet peliaee over her white dreea^ and, oover-
log her face with her vail, followed her mother out of
the room.
A few minutes afterwards they were on their way to
the cathedral, followed by the Director, his mother, and
Mina Pallersberg, in another carriage. The way was
not long to the beautiful building, and at the portal,
just dismounted from their horses, they found Frank
and Pallersberg. Notwithstanding the inclemency of
the weather, a number of people had collected round the
entrance, who unceremoniously followed them into the
church, and even to the private chapel in which the
ceremony was to take place, where, with faces pressed
against the filigree-work of the iron gate that separated
it from the main building, they wondered in whispers
why there were so few friends present, and what made
both bride and bridegroom look so deadly pale.
The marriage ceremony commenced: to Doris it
appeared like part of a troubled dream, especially when
the exchange of rings was to take place, and she knew
Hilda had none, and was sure Frank had never thought
about the matter: her mother, however, advanced, and
quickly drew from her finger her own wedding-ring,
gave it to Frank, and then put into Hilda's trembling
hand the ring that had been found by them on the pre-
vious Holy Eve in the crypt of the church on the Chapel-
island. The midnight scene then recurred to Hilda's
mind with painful vividness, and it was with a feeling
of perplexity and consternation that she nervously
placed the ring on Frank's finger, audibly drawing in her
breath, and afterwards raising her eyes for the first
time anxiously to his countenance. He, too, seemed
startled, and a crowd of recollections brought a deep
flush to his face and temples, until a glance towards
Doris again deprived him of ovory trace of color
MAERT IN HASTE, AND RSPEKT AT LIISVRB. 163
When they again stood before the door of the church,
aod as Frank, after having placed Hilda and Doris in
the carriage, drew aside to allow Pallersberg and his
aunt to jmiss him, the Director placed his hand on his
arm and whispered, Yoa will come back with ns,
(VMore, if only for appearance' sake and to sign the
papers V
^* Impossible V* he answered, beckoning to the soldier
who held his horse : " I must return to the redoubt on
the Michaelsberg."
He waited until joined by Pallersberg; they sprang
on their horses at the same moment, raised their hands
in salute, and dashed at full gallop across the open
space before the cathedral.
** Doris," said Hilda, with faltering voice, "he did
not speak to me, scarcely even looked at me I"
"My dear child," observed her mother, gravely, "you
most have patience with Frank for a little while ; he
may perhaps think it necessary to affect indifference
towards you, in order not to appear fickle to Doris."
Hilda turned quickly to her sister. " Is this likely,
Doris ? You know him best."
Oh ^very ^likely," panted Doris, with a painful
effort to smile, while vividly recalling poor Frank's
anguish when they had parted on the previous night.
" I am sorry," said their mother, taking a hand of
each, " very sorry to see you both suffering so much.
It will scarcely serve as consolation to tell you that I
was once in my life far more severely tried ^far more
thoroughly unhappy ^than either of you I"
" Do not for a moment suppose that I am unhappy,
dear mother," cried Doris, hastily; "or Hilda either,
-*-thongh her sudden marriage may have confused and
alarmed her."
"I do feel confused," said Hilda, "and I dare say
IM AT ODDS.
Frank is the same ; that unlucky ring, too, may havo
made an unpleasant impression on him/'
*'That is not probable," observed her mother; ''as he
knows it was worn many years by your father, and
never considered unlucky. Tou must not become su-
perstitiouS; Hilda.''
"How can I help it," she asked^ despondingly,
^ when I remember where and how we found that ring?
and Frank so pale that he reminded me horribly of
the apparition I saw in the vaults of the chapel?"
The carriage stopped, and the wedding-party slowly
ascended the stairs, on which a group of officers had
assembled to congratulate Frank on what they chose to
call his clandestine marriage. They lingered there, too,
for some time, in expectation of his probably arrival on
horseback, returning to their rooms at last in great as-
tonishment at his non-appearance, which to them was
perfectly incomprehensible, as they knew that, like
themselves, he was that day free from military duty,
and therefore his absence must be voluntary.
It was so, in fact, and Pallersberg had been obliged
to connive at this breach of decorum, in order that the
first outburst of Frank's wrath and despair might be
vented on him, instead of the youthfhl bride.
CHAPTEE XVIII.
FREEDOM IN CHAINS.
About this time the Archduke Ferdinand left 171m,
preferring a retreat of the most perilous description to
the capitulation which the tardy approach of the Rus-
sians made every day more probable. Frank's hopes
FREEDOM IK CHAINS. 103
of leaving the town were Bnutrated by a wounded
general, who had taken up his quarters in the Walder*
ing house, choosing to retain him as aide*de-camp, and
in consequence of this he was not obliged to be there
continually; but, notwithstanding all his efforts to make
it evident that his intercourse with the family was a
matter of necessity and not choice, frequent meetings,
and even long discussions, soon became unavoidable,
his near relationship causing him to be chosen as the
bearer of requests or demands that would otherwise
have been made by letter.
At first Frank thought it indispensable to affect a
press of business and extreme haste when delivering
his messages; by degrees, however, he discovered that
his aunt and Doris were perfectly unchanged in their
manner towards him, and that the Director and Sig-
mund never attempted to dispute any requisition made
by him, no matter how unreasonable it might appear to
them; but it was not until he brought a demand for the
Walderiug horses to remount some cuirassiers that he
perceived a sort of whispered appeal, made to his
neglected bride, as she sat somewhat apart from the
others at a distant window, when the acquiescent mo-
tion of her head, and the words, '' Of course ; why ask
me?'' suddenly, and not agreeably, reminded him that
she was proprietress of the house and all that it eon
tained.
For the first time since their marriage he addressed
her directly, while saying, half apologetically, "We only
require the carriage-horses, Hilda.''
^And why have you not taken them?" she asked,
looking up, and blushing deeply.
"Because I have received orders* to purchase, not
take/' he answered, resuming the air of distant polite-
ness which he considered expressive of his determina-
IM AT ODDS.
tion not to be won by br efforts to coneiliate. ' Bat/'
be continued, '* I rappose your uncle or cooein will be
better able to name a price tban yon/'
^ The horses are yours, Frank,'' she rejoined, timidly,
^to sell or dispose of in any way that you think
proper."
Poor Hilda! She meant to please, and gave dire
offense. Frank was irritated at being offered as a gift
what he came to purchase. He would not at that mo-
ment have accepted any thing from her nnder any dr-
cnmstances; so he turned abruptly to Sigmnnd, and
asked him what he thought the horses were worth.
Taking the present circumstances into considera-
tion," answered Sigmund, ^ I suppose we must not ven-
ture to suggest as price what they cost last year in
Munich r
'I should think notl" said Frank, laughing ironi-
cally; ^ rather a good deal less; for, though the bays
are well enough, one of the grays must be fired Ibr
spavin before six weeks are over I"
' Spavin!" repeated Sigmund, looking towards his
father. " Did you buy a spavined horse for Hilda V
"Not intentionally, '' answered the Director, quietly;
^ but as you were not with us, and I am ignorant on
such subjects, I was obliged to trust altogether to a
horse-dealer."
" At all events," observed Sigmund, " it cannot be very
evident, or I should have discovered it."
" I am ready to prove my assertion," said Frank,
walking to the door; 'and I hope you will excuse roy
driving a hard bargain, for our funds are very low just
now."
' Well," exclaimed the Director, when they had left
the room, that Is as remarkable an instance of per-
versity as can well be ima^ned !"
nSKDOM IN CHAIH8. 167
^ We moMt mftke some allowatitie for him jiisi now/'
observed Doris. ^ You know he has been retiuned hero
against his will; and he told mamma this morning that
instead of receiving his promotion in his owd regiment,-
as he had hoped, he is appointed to the Hussars, now in
Vienna."
Did he tell yon the reason V asked the Director.
"No."
"Then I can. It is in consisqaenoe of his varioos
passages d^armes with his comrades about about * '
" About me I" said Hilda. No wonder he has learned
to dislike me I"
Ahy bah ! that won't last long/' said the Director,
laughing; "and this change has served to prove that he
has many and powerful friends. Sigmund heard that
there were two other generals who would have taken
him as aide-de-camp*, and not a single officer in his regi
ment eould be induced to bear witness against him."
"What!" exclaimed Doris, "not even those he had
wounded ?"
'No. They were so chivalrous as to say that the
provocation had been great, aud that he had only acted
as they would have done in his place ; besides, it was
proved that he had visited them, sat up at night with
them, and, I believe, dressed their wounds I"
Oh, how I like him for all this!" cried Hilda, enthu-
siastically.
" Quixotic, as usual," said Doris, ^the expression of
her face giving any thing rather than a disparaging
meaning to the words.
"Courageous he is, at all events," observed the
Director, ^'and disinterested, too, we must suppose,
from his present effort to buy his wife's horses a bar-
gain for these cuirassiers."
"He is quite right," said Hilda.
Ids AT ODM.
^ I am glad yon think bo, my dear/' said ike Director,
''and hope yon may have reason to be equally satiafied
with him in every respeot."
^ I am ; that is, I shoald be quite satisfied if he weve
onoe more gay and like himself: to make him so, I
could almost wish the Bnssians here and the French
defeated I"
" Hear the youthful rebel!" cried the Director, laugh-
ing. " Four days married, and already a complete change
of politics 1"
*No/' cried Hilda, eagerly, "I am quite Bavariaii
still, and admire Napoleon as much as ever."
** And no doubt," interposed Doris, with some vehe-
mence, your admiration will be increased when JJha
is bombarded and the country abont it completely de-
vastated."
M. d'Bsterre," replied Hilda, "told me that Napa-
leon will spare the town, as the burghers are known
to be well disposed towards him."
" More shame for them I" began Doris.
** My dear girls," cried their mother, interfering, " you
promised me to avoid this subject, ^the only one on
which yod ever disagree. Believe me, a few years
hence you and all of us will think alike of this great
general but most perfidious and unscrupulous of men !"
The Director shook his head and smiled ironically ;
but, thinking it better to avoid a useless discussion, he
left the room, saying he had an appointment at the com-
missariat about forage. Doris and her mother soon
after followed, no longer either thinking or speaking of
Napoleon, but in deep consultation about the reception
of additional troops that were to be billeted on them;
while Hilda, the person, in fact, most of all concerned
in these arrangements, pursued the occupation then
universally prevalent in Ulm, the preparing of lint and
IRBEDOM IN CHAINS. 160
bancUgM for a temporuy hospital that had been esta-
blished in what had once been and was still called the
Wengen Monastery. The table before her was covered
with long strips and narrow rolls of carefully docketed
linen, heaps of fine and coarse lint, far more than
enoagh to fill the basket placed beside her for their re-
ception, but still she cut and picked and folded, only
looking up for a moment when Frank suddenly re-
turned to the room, apparently more surprised than
pleased to find her alone in it.
''Sigmund declines receiving the money for the
horses/' he said, advancing to the table; ''and though
I hoped to find the Director or my aunt here, you will
do as well or better than either, as the money is, in
fiict, yours.'' Here he pushed aside some of the lint and
linen, and began to count his bank-notes in a most
business-like manner.
^ I have not purchased these horses for myself, Hilda,"
he said, with some hesitation, '* and therefore must beg
you to sign this paper, acknowledging having received
the sum of"
He stopped, and E^lda looked up inquiringly.
* It is a matter of business," he added, hastily, '' and
you know I must have something in the form of a
receipt to show."
" I did not think of that," she said, rising so hastily
that, in passing to another table where there were
writing-materials, her dress swept the, carefully-ar-
ranged notes to the ground. Then, taking up a pen,
she inadvertently, and in a handwriting rendered
almost illegible by agitation, signed the name of Wal-
iering!
"That paper is of no use, Hilda; you had better ask
the Director to write another," isaid Frank, preparing to
ev6 the room.
15
170 AT ODDS.
'^ Oh, stay : I see my mistake now. Can I not write
the ^tLe other name underneath V*
"'So; I woald rather have the Director's signatare.''
"But you are not offended, ^not angry, I hope ?"
" Not in the least. I think it is very probahle you
prefer the name of Waldering, and if so you can resume
it whenever you think it advisable to do so."
'^ Frank !" she exclaimed, laying her hand on his arm,
"do you mean what my grandmother proposed this
morning? Do you wish for a a divorce ?"
" I have been told," he answered, " that there is no
great difficulty in obtaining one in this part of Ger-
many, and, should you desire it, I shall be ready at any
time to meet your wishes ; the proposal, however, must
come from you or your family, for I have no legal cause
of complaint, and no object to gain, since Doris is lost
to me forever I"
" No legal cause of complaint !" repeated Hilda. *^ I
do not understand these things, Frank; but Doris told
me that if we did not ask you to leave the army, and
I returned to Westenried with my mother until the war
was over, you would be satisfied."
"Yes; those were my stipulations."
"Before our marriage ?" she asked, quickly.
" Undoubtedly ; otherwise I should never have con-
sented."
"And I thought they were concessions on my part,
made, however, most willingly, at Doris's instigation."
"Call them concessions if you like," said Frank; "I
only insist on their being understood and adhered te
undeviatingly."
" Of course," said Hilda, a good deal alarmed at the
irritated tone of his voice: "of course; and if mamma
should go to Innsbruck instead of Westenried, hare you
any objection to my accompanying her?"
TRESDOM IN CHAIKB. 171
*^ Gk where yon please^ and do what you like/' he
answered, turning away: ''I make no pretension to
authority in a onion that is merely nominal I"
Long after he had left the room, Hilda stood with
hands tightly pressed together^ flashed cheeks, and eyes
resting on the closed door with the steady abstracted
gajEC of profound thought. It was a long, reluctant re-
troq[eoty producing much self-condemnation and regret,
but was soon succeeded by a strong revulsion of feeling,
made at once evident by the parted lips, quick audible
breathing, and flashing eyes. Pride and resentment
had gained the ascendency, and when Sigmund soon
after entered the room, she walked to the window, bent
over her parcels of linen while packing them into the
basket, and then stooped to collect the scattered bank-
notes, in order to place them again on the table.
' I wish, Sigmund," she said, with that apparent com-
posure by no means uncommon in even very young
women in moments of great mental agitation, I wish
you would put this money aside until my uncle returns
home."
' But did not Frank give it to you^' he asked.
' Yes : it happened, however, that a receipt was neces-
sary, and when he placed one before me for signature I
thoughtlessly wrote * Waldering* instead of "
Ha I ha I ha I capital I as nice a maneuver as could
well be imagined V
' It was nothing of the kind, Sigmund, ^a stupid mis-
take, only excusable when one takes into consideration
how often I have signed the name of Waldering to similar
papers since I came to XTlm. Pray send Frank a written
acknowledgment this evening, or he will suppose me as
negligent as I was thoughtless."
'''Stay, Hilda, one word. Did not this little scene
lead to a reconciliation with Frank f Believe me, I wish
172 AT 0DD8.
it mott sincerely, for his condnot ia snch that I begin to
fear yon will feel irritated instead of grateM for my
indirect influence in promoting your marriage/'
I neither feel the one nor the other, Sigmund/' she
answered, with forced calmness: ^yon had motives for
your actions that Mina has since explained to me at
some length."
"Just like her/' he observed, bitterly; "and she has
explained to Doris also, as a matter of course. I hope,
however, she pointed out to her the great pecuniary
sacrifice I made in resigning you ?"
" Do not fancy you resigned me,'' said Hilda, eagerly
seizing the offered vent for the anger rankling at her
heart. " One would really suppose I was a thing to be
taken or refused at pleasure I Frank's chivalrous con-
duct during my eight days' imprisonment would have
made me love him had I never cared for him before,
while your double^lealing on that occasion turned at
once the little regard I ever felt for you into scorn 1"
" If," said Sigmund, with ironical gravity, ^^ if my
humiliation can serve to raise your husband in your
estimation, I can almost rejoice in it; but you have no
right to scorn me for having promoted your marriage
with this ^dearest, handsomest, bravest,' and, as you
now tell me, most chivalrous of men ! On the contrary,
I have every reason to expect you to assist me in return
by pleading my cause to Doris, whenever an occasion
offers."
"Plead for yourself: it will be in vain " began
Hilda ; but at that moment Doris appeared at the door
to remind her that it was time to go to the hospital.
" I am sorry to tell yon," she said, as they walked
away together, " that all the rooms and even the cor-
ridors of our Wenger Monastery Hospital are now filled
with wounded, and the poor men complain more of cold
FREEBaif IN CHAINS. 173
and hanger than of their wounds. There are no mat-
tresses, no cooking-utensils, and a great want of linen
and other necessaries. A printed request has heen sent
to all the inhabitants of the town for assistance, and
mamma desired me to ask you if you object to her
sending whatever we can spare.''
" How could I object V said Hilda. " Is it not a duty
to give every thing we possess on such an occasion V
'' Mamma said she was sure you would think so," con-
tinued Doris; ^' but, as the Director was of opinion that
valuable wine such as you have in the cellars here would
be thrown away if given for hospital use, we thought it
better to consult you.''
' Did my uncle say he would not allow me to give
it?" asked Hilda.
'' Ko, dear : you forget that since your marriage he
has no further control, and Frank will certainly make
no objection."
' I shall not ask him," said Hilda, with a decision quite
unlike her usual manner : he makes no pretension to
authority in a union that is merely nominal."
Doris stood still and looked at her sister. ' Did he
aay this, Hilda?"
' Yes, Doris, and at the same time told me distinctly
that I might go where I pleased and do what I liked !"
'' Dear Hilda, I am so sorry I ^but you will see that in
" In time, Doris, I shall learn to enjoy my independ-
ence; and the first use I make of it will be to send all
the wine in this house to the hospital !"
lb*
174 AT QWM.
CHAPTER XIX
soldisr's wobk.
Thx situation of the inhabitants of Ulm became eyery
day more deplorable. Boring the last month soldiera
had been quartered in all the hoases, latterly to the
amount of a hundred and fifty, and even two hundred,
in those of very moderate dimensions. For the troopa
in and about the town rations both of bread and moat
had been ftimished in hundreds of thousands, causing
millers, bakers, and butchers to" be almost exclusively
employed in the service of the army. All communication
with the surrounding country was cut off, there was no
market, and latterly no xOB8ibility of supplying the
crowded town with provisions; beer could no longer be
procured, bread seldom in sufficient quantities, often not
at all, and at length high and low were alike reduced to
the consumption of the still remaining stores of cheese
and potatoes.
The unusual inclemency of the weather greatly added
to the general discomfort; wild storms pf biting sleet
succeeded the rain that had previously fallen in torrents;
the cold increased, and the ground in the vicinity of the
hastily-thrown -up intrenchments became a thick clammy
mud, not only impeding progress but injuring uniforms
and destroying shoes and boots in a manner that made
a proclamation necessary commanding the attendance
of all the shoemakers in XTlm to mend and make ez
clusively for the garrison.
Tt is difficnlt to imagine how the French, burdened
178
with arms and provisioiifty managed to toil over roadi
rendered so nearly impassable by rain, and burrowed
by the passage of artillery and baggage-wagons; bnt
the chances of fatigue and exposure to the weather
were not on any occasion taken into consideration by
Napoleon when moving his troops, and therefore, in
spite of all impediments, the presence of the main army
soon became known in Dim when the inhabitants heard
the booming of cannon in the direction of Elchingen
and the rattle of musketry in their immediate vicinity.
With the sncceeding military movements we have no
concern, excepting in so far as they were evident or im-
portant to the inmates of the Waldering house, the situa*
tion of which, not far from the Danube gate, made them
witnesses of the first engagement which took place within
sight of the walls of TTlm : this was when a column of
French cavalry, halting at some distance on the Mem-
mingen road, sent forward detachments to attack the
Austrian pickets there stationed, and a skirmish com*
menced which increased to a conflict that lasted the
whole afternoon.
The Director, Sigmund, and their firiend D'Bsterre
mounted to the roof of the house to watch with similar
hopes and feelings the progress of the engagement,
while Doris and Hilda, peering through a small window
in the loft, followed with anxious eyes the lines of
moving infantry, the charges of cavalry, the march of
reinforcements from the town, and the wreaths of smoke
that preceded the report of musketry, without in the
least understanding what was going on.
^ It does not look so awful as I imagined,'' observed
Hilda, ' perhaps because the rain makes every thing so
indistinct."
** Tet," said Doris, ^ it is horrible wlien one thinks
1V6 AT ODDS.
that they are tiyiog to Idll eaoh otheri and that every
shot we hear may caase death."
At this moment Frank, mounted on Doris's horse,
galloped at full qeed across the bridge in the direction
of the combatants,
They have sent him with orders/' cried Doris,
clasping her hands, ''and he will be sore to get into
danger.''
And yon," said Hilda^ ^'yoa have lent or given him
Brian Bora r
" Neither/' answered Doris, quickly : ' when his horse
was woonded I proposed his taking him, bat he assured
me Brian was too light for a charger, did not stand fire,
and I know not what else."
''And now/' rejoined Hilda, ''now he prefers him to
my Selim; a freak not unlike his baying the carriage-
horses, and paying spaying me for them, Doris I"
'! always feared he would be guilty of some such
absurdities/' said Doris, in a low voice. " Have patience,
dear Hilda, and, believe me, all will go right at last."
'' Not if he see his power, Doris, and continues so well
assured of my affection. He now thinks that I will
submit humbly to any amount of arrogance on his part;
but he is mistaken, and I hope before long to show him
that I feel conscious of the independence he so rudely
conferred on me."
''But, Hilda, you have told me that you like this
arrangement, and remain quite willingly with mamma
and me."
"And so I do; I even find his 'stipulations,' as he
calls them, quite reasonable and judicious; but when
they are not disputed, why make a display of his indif-
ference or dislike to me ? Why give Sigmund opportu-
nities of pretending sympathy and offering consolation ?"
** Why, indeed ?*' said Doris; " he is perverse, UAgene-
BOItDCn'S WORK. 177
I ; and I shall tell him 00 tbe first opportunity that
offers."
Not fir the nniyerseP exclaimed Hilda, hastOy;
** I will not have him ordered to toeat me with polite*
nesal"
" Perhaps you are right, Hilda ; but at all erentS; when
you jndge him, take into consideration the state of
agitation and anxiety in which he has lately been living.
Believe me, he is not like himself just now V
" To you, Doris, he is precisely what he ever was, and
I only require him to be again the same to me. Am I
unreasonable?"
" No, dear, no j and if you will only aUow me to speak
to him "
I will not, Doris ; the time for the interference of
friMids is past, and, having received his orders te adhere
undeviatingly to these stipulations, I can only obey, and
coliBole myself with " She paused.
" With what?" asked Doris, anxiously.
" With the power to go where I please and to do what
I like," answered Hilda.
Neither of them spoke again, though they remained
for some time longer side by side watching and waiting
for the reappearance of Frank, who had apparently
joined a body of cavalry that had soon after charged
the French. They waited in vain ; various detachments
of troops left the town, but none returned, and at length,
the storm beginning to drive sheets of waving sleet be-
tween them and the combatants, they turned shivering
f^m the window and descended to the^ small sitting-
room at the back of the house, which, with two or three
other apartments of equally insignificant dimensions,
bad latterly been all that could be reserved for the
private use of their fiimily.
The sisters seated themselves at different windows,
17S AT ODM.
and looked into the garden with its Grecian temple, and
the turbulent flooded river beyond, and were quite nn-
conscious of the approach of evening, until the sonnd
of numerous and heavily-treading feet in the corridors
announced the return of the soldiers billeted in the house
to their quarters.
*^ Do you think/' asked Hilda, " there is any use in
making inquiries about him? The ofScers here are so
very polite that I don't at all mind asking them ; besides,
they know I have a right to"
At this moment the door opened, and the object of
their mutual anxiety stood before them. Bespattered
with mud and blood, his clothes completely wet through,
he advanced towards Doris with a step so slow and re-
luctant, so unlike himself, that she bent forward alarmed,
and exclaimed, as he approached, ' Frank, ^yon are
wounded!"
Hilda sprang to her feet with an ejaculation of stifled
terror.
'No, Doris, I am not wounded; I am not, I assure
you I" he added, as she rose and, approaching him,
pointed to the upper part of the sleeve of his coat, which
hung dangling from his elbow.
" That was a lucky cut for me," he said, quietly ; ** but
it cost a French dragoon his life. You see the sleeve
alone is injured."
' I see that the lower part of it is saturated with
blood," she answered.
' Then," he said, raising his arm for inspection, ' it
. is French blood that streamed down the blade and over
the hilt of my sword."
Oh, Frank, how dreadful !"
* Yes, dear, very dreadful, rafter it is over; but when
charging the enemy one is impelled onward by some
irresistible impulse that gives a feeling of absc^ute ex
soldur's work. 179
iiitaiioii in croshing and destroying eyery opponent
There is something horribly exciting in these fierce
straggles. It is soldier's work, Doris, and will not bear
qaiet disenssion. I came to speak of something else;
to tell you that when carrying orders from the general
I borrowed your horse Brian Bora "
"I know it," she answered; "for I saw you ridipg
over the bridge."
^'Can you forgive me for taking him, Doris, when
I tell you that half an hoar afterwards he was shot
under me ? His death was quick, for two balls in the
flank and one through the body made him fall without
a struggle."
" And you, Frank, and you ?"
^ I managed soon after to pull a French lancer ftom
nis horse, got into his saddle, and returned to the
attack."
''And the lancer f" she asked, glandng suspiciously
towards the blood-stained garments.
'' He was a gallant fellow, and fought hard before he
yielded."
" Oh, then," she said, with a sigh of relief, '* you did
not kill Wm.^'
Frank was silent for some moments, and then, in a
low voice, answered, '^ Doris, on such occasions, if a
man does not take life ^he loses it 1"
She covered her face with her hands, as if to shut out
the scene that presented itself, while Frank stood before
her, his arms folded, his eyes bent on the ground, un-
conscious of the looks of intense admiration bestowed
on him by his youthful bride, in whose idea he was at
that moment the personification of all that was heroic,
brave, and beautiful I What did she know of the horri-
ble carnage in which he had been engaged 1 She saw
himi mounted on her sister's prancing Hungarian steedi
180 AT OAMk
oonqumag erary thing that eame within reach of hiA
sword. She oared not how many had iUen ; she r-
got they were French, and, as she usoally asserted, hr
allies. To her there was bat one slight^ gracefol rider
sweeping the battle-field, with' arm upraised, like a
destroying angel I She ooold hardly contain her annoy-
avoe when her sister obserred,
' Yon were merely the bearer of orders, Frank, and
need not have been engaged if yon had not wished it."
**Yery tme, Doris; bat ^I can't resist temptation
when it comes in my way, and, besides, my regiment
was there "
Year regiment is now in Vienna/' she interposed.
Well, then, my old comrades were there; and when
I saw my own troop in motion "
Frank, yon never waited for that; yon volanteered
at once 1"
*^ Yes, Doris, of coarse; and I would do it again 1" he
answered, impetaously ; and any fellow in my regiment
would have volunteered on such an occasion."
"Oh, Doris r exclaimed Hilda; "how can you take
him to task in this manner V*
" You do not know what she means, Hilda," said
Frank, unable to conceal his annoyance at her inter-
ference, "but I do; and she is right in the main,
although a little hard upon me, as usual. Doris," he
added, after a pause, ^I am sorry, very sorry, about
Brian, and any amount of reproaches on that score
I shall listen to submissively."
"I have none to make," she answered; ^'your own
horse was unfit for service, ^what could be more
natural than to take mine V
"Or mine?" interposed Hilda, making an effort to
speak in her former unrestrained tone and manner.
^ How often have you said that Selim might be a geae-
boijier's work. 181
nl's charger or the parade-horse of a Turkish bashaw!
Take him into yonr service now^ Frank^ as the first
step towards his promotion."
" Hilda !" he answered, with a frigid gravity qaite
foreign to his character, and, with great effort, assumed
for the occasion, ' you ought to feel that, circumstanced
as We are, I cannot possibly accept any thing from you.
I hoped I had been sufficiently explicit on this subject
not very long since."
Even in the gloomy twilight of the autumn evening
Frank saw the painfully deep blush that spread over
Hilda's face and neck while he spoke ; and though the
opportunity of exhibiting his complete renunciation
of her in Doris's presence had been very acceptable to
him, the words had no sooner passed his lips than he
began to relent, and to wish the latter would openly
undertake the part of mediating, and enable him with
a good grace to consent to a cessation of hostilities cal-
culated eventually to lead to a satisfactory peace.
But he had gone too far; his words had reminded
Hilda of all her previous resolutions, and made her
ashamed of having been induced, by admiration of his
personal courage, to place herself in a position that had
given him an opportunity of rebuking and repulsing her
again. She turned abruptly away, and left the room
in silence more eloquent than words ; and Doris, not at all
disposed to mediate, stood up, exclaiming, Frank, yoa
will break her heart ] can you not see that she loves
you ten times more than I ever did? Do you think
that in her place I should have made bo many attempts
to conciliate you ? I tell you, No I and one such re-
palse would have turned my affection into dislike, if
not something stronger ! I did not think you could be
00 ungracious and ungenerous ; but it will at least serve
the purpose of lowering you in Hilda's estimation, of
16
183 AT ODim.
makifog her see yon as jau, are, instead of sapposing
you a deini*god, as she does now V
Before Frank had time to attempt an answer, Doiis
was gone; and, a good deal discomfited at the torn
his affairs had taken, he sat down| placed his sword
between his knees, his clasped hands upon the hilt, his
ehin npon his hands, and endeavored, to the best of his
ability, to form some plan to set all to rights again^
and make it up with both girls/' Doris must be first
considered. He did not attempt to dispute her supe-
riority to Hilda, ^to himself, to every one j but he had
a vague idea that she usurped a great deal of authorityj
and had been very hard upon him of late. It is true
she was always reasonable, always in the right; but
surely she must be well aware that his affection lor her
was the sole cause of the conduct she reprehended so
severely. He believed he had been brusque to Hilda,
ungentlemanlike, in fact; and, after all, if Doris really
wished him to forget her, and turn to her sister,
%ould it not? yes ^it certainly would be better to
obey her. There was no mistaking Doris's manner,
and she was evidently angry, and not in the least
gratified by his conduct. Here Frank sighed deeply,
and then came various vivid recollections of Hilda's
blushing, eager efforts to turn the ^ winter of his dis-
eontent to glorious summer ;" of unresisting submission
to his stipulations, mingled, however, with some inci-
pient fear of having tried her patience beyond endur-
ance; but ^had not Doris said that Hilda considered
him a demi-god ?
The natural wish to see how Hilda's demi-god looked
just then, induced him to raise his eyes to the narrow
glass between the windows, and the &ce reflected there,
in spite of disordered hair and recent exposure to storm
and sleet, was singularly handsome; it would also
THE BOMBABDMCNT. 188
hftve been dilBcnlt to discover a fault in the well-
formed figare, though the tom^ stained, and beepat
tered uniform and mud-incrasted jack-boots were not
exactly calculated to enhance its comeliness; nev^v
theless^ as he stood np, and placed his hand on the
marble slab of the console j he was any thing rather than
satisfied with his appearance^ made some useless efforts
to improve it, as people foolishly will do when con-
scious they have previously been seen to disadvantage^
hoped the sunless evening, and consequently sombre
room, had prevented his cousins from minutely observ-
ing his dress, and then, murmuring something about
even a demi-god requiring soap and water, he turned
away^ thinking, for the first time in his life, more of
Hilda than Doris.
CHAPTEE XX.
THE BOMBARDMENT.
" To eat horseflesh, or not to eat horseflesh!
Thai is the question.*'
FaANK's intention of being reconciled to Hilda was
frustrated by public events of such importance that he
only occasionally found time to think of, and regret, a
procrastination that might eventually increase his diifi*
culties. It had, by degrees, become evident that the
twenty-five thousand Austrians in Ulm were surrounded
by the whole army of Napoleon, and that the unfinished
works beyond the walls could not be defended for any
length of time. The French, with only a few days'
provision in their knapsacks, spread over the surround*
ing country like a swarm of locusts, and soon caused a
184 AT ODDS.
dearth thai, redadng them to half-rations, and the an-
fortunate inhabitants in their neighborhood to att^
destitution, made the redaction of Uhn, and a move-
ment elsewherei a matter of absolute necessity. The
only change in the weather was ihm snow and sleet to
torrents of rain ; and; under these circumstances, the
heights round the town were attacked, carried by storm,
and the Austrians, overpowered by numbers, obliged to
retreat within the walls.
This engagement lasted, without intermission, during
a whole afternoon, the incessant sound of no longer dis-
tant cannon and musketry alarming the burghers so
much that they began to fear a bombardment; and,
when a few large balls actually strayed into the streets,
they thought it time to put the cellars in order, that
they might serve as places of refuge for their families.
The Austrians posted cannon on the walls, barricaded
the gates, and partially destroyed the bridges. A French
officer, with bandaged eyes, and preceded by a trumpeter,
was admitted into the town and taken to the Golden
Wheel, where the generals were assembled, but his pro-
posal to them to capitulate was at once rejected.
From that time forward, all the inhabitants of TJlm
were kept in a state of feverish anxiety; but the dis-
quietude was greater in the Waldering j&mily than ^se-
where, for it was a house '^ divided against itself," the
friends of one half being the foes of the other. Hilda,
under the influence of her indignation against Frank,
now sided completely with her uncle and Sigmund;
while Doris and her mother, fully informed by Pallors-
berg of all that had occurred beyond the walls and at
the Golden Wheel, only ventured to speak unreservedly
to him or to Frank of their hopes and fears for the
fnture.
Do you think," asked the Countess Waldering one
THS BOMBARl^MBNT. 186
mormng, as Frank was about to leave tho room, where
he had in vain lingered in the hope of seeing Hilda, "do
yon think that Marshal Mack really believes the Russians
to be so near us as Dachau V
'^ I don^t know," he answered : '* at all events, he tried
to make the French officer think so when he proposed a
truce of eight days, to which it is impossible for Napo-
leon to consent, as he is wholly unprovided with sup-
plies for his army."
( The provisions here will scarcely last so long," she
observed.
Mack seemed to think we might subsist on our three
thousand horses," replied il^rank.
^ That proves, at all events," said his aunt, that he
is perfectly aware of the state of the town : the burghersi
however, will not be well satisfied with his proclamation.
Have you seen it ?"
"No; but I know the purport."
*Tou ought to read it," ^he said, pushing the paper
towards him.
And he read as follows :
^ In the name of his Majestyl render responsible, on
their honor and their duty, all the generals and supe-
rior officers who shall mention the word * surrender,' or
who shall think of any thing but the most obstinate
defense, a defense which cannot be required for any
oonaiderable time, as in a very few days the advanced
guards of an Imperial and a Russian army will appear
before Ulm to relieve us. The army of the enemy is
in the most deplorable situation, as well from want of
provisions as the severity of the weather, and it is im*
possible that the blockade can be maintained beyond a
few days.
^Our ditches are deep, our bastions strong; should
provisions &il, we have more than three thousand
IM AT 09M. .
hones, ii which we oan live for a considerable time.
I myself will be the first to eat horseflesh "
Frank paused^ then placed the paper on the table.
Well V said his aant^ inqairinglj ; ' well, what do
yoa think?"
^ I think he will not eat the horseflesh/' he answered.
There was something in the tone and manner in which
those words were prononnced so like Frank's former
self, that Doris who had lately made him feel her dis-
pleasure by marked avoidance, and had been sitting at
a work-table, apparently heedless of his presence ^qow
looked up, fally expecting to see a gleam of his usual
mirth playing on his coantenance; bat Frank was al-
sently drawing lines oa the painted floor with the point
of his scabbard, and appeared profoundly dejected.
'So the chances," continued his aunt, ''are that we
shall have to surrender ?"
'' Decidedly, unless the citizens of Ulm can be per-
oaded to allow the town to be reduced to ashes. The
French are in possession of the heights, and a four-and*
twenty hours' bombardment will complete the work of
destruction."
'' What were the terms of capitulation offered 7" she
asked.
The garrison to lay down their arms and become
prisoners of war, with the exception of the officers, who
receive ]ermi88ion to return to Austria with arms,
horses, and baggage. Should it come to the worst,"
added Frank; ' I shall cease to regret my appointment
to another regiment, as General Laudon has promised
to allow me to leave Ulm in whatever way I can, as the
bearer of dispatches."
* And," asked his aunt, "have you formed any plan
of escape ?"
." I think of floating down the Danube on one of the
THE BOMBARDMENT. 187
wood-rafts nntil I get bejond the French lines/' he an*
swered; "bat, as limg as there is any thing to be done
h*^'\, I have no intention of leaving."
'Have you any thing very important to do just
nowr
^* Yes; I mast give orders about the interment, or I
should rather say the burial, of our dead.''
" Pretty much the same thing, Frank, is it not?"
^* No; for the poor fellows must be consigned to the
water of the Danube."
For goodness' sake, Frank, take care that none are
thrown into the river who are merely in a state of
insensibility ! Such things often happen."
" I know it," he answered, gloomily, " and will do
my best to prevent any murderous mistakes. And now
good-bye until evenings"
When Frank returned some hours later, he was in
formed that all the family had gone to a loft on the top
of the house to look at the French watch-fires on ih%
heights round the town. He followed them there, grop*
ing his way up the last narrow flight of steps in total
darkness, and then stopping at the entrance, surprised
to find not only those he sought, but also a number of
the officers quartered in the house, standing in groups
near the small windows that projected from the roof.
The loft was very spacious, and but dimly lighted by a
lamp placed on a huge mangle near the door: so that it
required some time to discover that the beams and
shingles of the roof were visible, and that baskets, boxes,
trunks of various dimensions, and a curious collection
of old forniture, were heaped along the low waUs at
each side.
Frank approached his aunt, who, with Doris and
Pallersberg, were standing at the window nearest him,
and they silently drew back to enable him to lean out
188 AT ODDft.
ad see the faaiidfeda of fires thst burned with Isrid
iames on the Michaelsberg and all the heights around.
*'We may expect a bombardment to*morrow/' ob
served Pallersberg; ^'and I have jost been recommend*
ing jour aant and cousin to retreat to the cellar as soon
as it commences.'^
** Perhaps it would be expedient/' said Frank, turn-
ing round; '^though I do not think this house very
dangerously situated. At all events, a -good supply of
water up here will be necessary, and we may chanoe to
require those shriveled leather buckets I have so often
laughed at when I saw them dangling above our heads
in the vaulted passages below-stairs."
*' But/' observed his aunt, " if we retreat to the cellar,
who will attend to the house in case of fire V
" The men quartered here, and who are not required
elsewhere/' he answered} we have plenty of water,
and plenty of hands to work. I suspect that will be
oor chief occupation to-morrow, unless Kapoleon really
wishes to destroy the town, which we must suppose he
does not, as it belongs to an ally/'
' Then, I think, dear Doris," began his aunt, turning
to her daughter, '*if we can be of no use "
''None whatever/' interposed Frank; ''and Hilda
will of course go with you."
"I cannot answer for her, Frank; she has become
rather willful lately."
"Where is she V he asked, quietly.
"At one of the other windows, with her grandmother
and uncle. Your unkindness, Frank, has made her turn
altogether to them, and she has now so completely
adopted their views of public affairs that, for the present, ^
I think it better to avoid useless opposition."
The political opinions of a girl of seventeen are not
of much importance," said Frank ; " but why hers should
THE BOMBARDMENT. 18d
be fio different from yonrs and Doris's I cannot well
Hoderstand/'
''You forget, Frank, that she is a Waldering, that
she has been engaged to Sigmund for several years, aod
was to have been married to him this month. Would
it not have been worse than folly had I tried to nmke
her think differently from him and his family on a sub-
ject that is so continually discussed ? A few kind words
from you would have far outweighed all she has heard
from either her uncle or Sigmund, and her personal
enthusiasm for Kapoleon could easily have been damped
had you given yourself the slightest trouble to identify
her interests with yours."
Frank moved away in silence, walking towards that
part of the loft where Hilda was standing. She and her
relations were listening to encomiums and anecdotes of
Napoleon, volubly poured forth by Louis d'Esterre, who
ended by an instance of the marvelous munificence of
his Emperor.
'^ Pshaw I" cried Frank, at length, turning on his heel.
" It is very easy to give away other people's property
and be generous, when it costs nothing I"
"Notre cher Francis se fache, naturellement," said
Louis, shrugging his shoulders, and continuing his dis-
course as if no interruption had taken place.
The Walderings saw Frank no more that evening,
nor the next day until the afternoon, when the expected
bombardment actually commenced. It soon became
evident to all who had doubted the fact that the French,
from their position on the Michaelsberg, could, and per-
haps would, completely destroy the town if any delay
in the capitulation should provoke them to do so. Can-
non-balls were seen flying over the houses or heard
hissing past the windows at first with more awe than
alarm by the inhabitants ; but when the bursting shells
190 AT OODS.
killed irnd -wovnded several persons and caused fire to
break out in varioas places, the consternation became
general It is probable that this commencement of
hostilities against the town was intended as a mere
demonstration of power on the part of tiie enemy, fir
at the end of an hour the firing ceased as suddenly as it
had began, and hopes were for some time entertained
that a capitulation was in prospect. No steps towards
it, however, having been taken, the cannonade com-
menced again, and so much more effectually that in
most bouses a retreat to the cellars became necessary.
Many balls and bombs had passed over the Walder-
ing house and fallen into the Danube; but, excepting
the dowager countess and her companion Mina Pallers-
berg, no one could at first be persuaded to seek safety
under ground, or believe in immediate danger in rooms
where officers and men ap}eared to come and go pre*
oisely as usual. The Director wandered uneasily about
the staircase, and occasionally followed Sigmund and
Louis d'Esterre to the loft, where, reconnoitering from
the windows at both sides with their telescopes, they
vainly endeavored to make him understand what was
happening or likely to happen. It was while they were
there that a shell struck and soon after exploded on the
shingled roof, causing it instantaneously to ignite, so
that, had not soldiers been both in the house itself and
in the immediate neighborhood, and all well supplied
with the requisites for extinguishing the flames, there
was every probability that, instead of the roof, the
whole building and all in its vicinity would have been
burnt to the ground.
When the alarm' and con^ion caused by this incident
had subsided, the Director insisted on his sister-in-law
and her daughters retiring to the cellars, where he
acccHnpanied them, explaining at some length the folly
TH BOMBABOMENT. 191
of peepto ivbd edmld be of no itoe exposing tiiemselTee
to the danger of mutilation or death. Having descended,
candle in hand, to the vaulte/they were not a little snr-
prieed to find themselTes sarroonded by a number of
friends and acquaintances, who from more exposed parts
of the town had sought refuge with them; and it hap
pened that many of these, not having seen Hilda since
her marriage, took the opportunity of formally con-
gratulating her, and with a mixture of interest and
curiosity commenced making inqoiries concerning her
plans for the future.
In order to escape explanations that were as embar-
rassing as unnecessary, and exclamations more irritating
than sympathetic, Hilda at length took refuge on the
cellar-steps, and there remained alone and anxiously
listening until she had convinced herself that for some
reason or other the firing had ceased ; then she ascended
to the fresh air above ground, venturing first under the
vaulted entrance to the\house and afterwards to the
gate, which, being partly open, enabled her to look into
the street.
Detachments of soldiers were marching past, crowds
of people moving to and fro, and strangers speaking to
each other without the slightest reserve : so that when
Hilda joined some citizens standing in a group just
outside the house no one appeared at all surprised or
hesitated for a moment to give her unasked all the
information in their power.
"You see, miss, they've stopped for the present^
though no one knows any thing of a capitulation as yet.
A great many houses were burning half an hour ago;
but the soldiers prevented the fire from spreading or
doing much mischief. In the Hirsch and Frauen-street
and 'about the cathedral there was most danger, and
192 AT ODDS.
thera eren the oflleers themselTes worked at the pomps
and backets/'
And the hospital ?" asked Hilda.
^ A black flag iMS hoisted there; bnt it's not easy to
give such fireworks the right direction, and they say a
shell burst in one of the large rooms and injured most
of the wounded who were in it.''
Hilda suddenly remembered that just then was the
boar in which she and Doris were usually in the habit
of sending or going to the hospital with lint and linen.
She thought it very probable that the fear of exposing
themselves to danger might deter many families that
day from Mfilling their promise of delivering regular
supplies : how necessary, therefore, was it that an effort
should be made by some of them ! Would the quantily
that she could carry be of sufficient importance to justify
the risk incurred ? Her mother had often said that the
fear of not doing much ought never to deter any one
from endeavoring to do the little within their power,
and that if every one thought and acted so, great things
would be accomplished.
She returned into the house, and on the impulse of
the moment ran up to the sitting-room, packed in a
large bundle all the lint and linen prepared by her
mother, her sister, and herself during the last twenty-
four hours, hurried with it down the stairs and past the
entrance to the cellar, where she greatly feared enoonn-
tering some one who would have a right to expostnlato
with her; but, excepting some soldiers, no one was
there, and with an indescribable feeling of buoyancy
she carried her load through the crowded streets to the
hospital, and had there the satisfaction of hearing that
her effort had not been in vain, as the greatest embar*'
rassment had prevailed in consequence of the asaal
supplies not having been sent.
THB BOMBAEDMENT. 193
Had Hildft bad time to go into tbe room in which the
Bhell had exploded a couple of hours preyiously, she
would have been more alarmed on leaving the hospitai
to find that the bombardment had recommenced, and
that these fiery messengers were again flying whistling
through the air. Few people excepting soldiers were
now in the streets, and they were occupied preparing
bivouac-fires, as the closing day was unusnally dark and
chilly. Hilda walked on quickly, vaguely alarmed at
tiie booming, hissing noise and the report of distant
explosions, until she reached the cathedral: there she
paused and looked round before crossing the open un-
eheltered Place. Most of the soldiers stood under the
gateways of the adjacent houses, and those occupied
without looked up frequently and shouted to each other
at intervals. The shells, that during the day had been
visible in the form of black balls of iron, now appeared
like fiery meteors, with blazing tails most beautifally
brilliant, first ascending to a certain height and then
gradually descending to the spot where they were des-
tined to execute their work of destruction.
WhcB Hilda saw these dangerous missiles sweeping
m^estically over her head, she felt extremely unwilling
to venture across the Munsterplatz : on the other hand,
the necessity of reaching home before it became quite
dark made it unavoidable that she should do so without
delay. A shed had been erected in the middle of the
Platz by some masons employed in repairing the cathe-
dral, in which bricks, lime, and sand were sheltered firom
the weather, and towards this shed, as if it were a place
of safety, Hilda walked as quickly as she could until the
sound of loud calls of " halt V induced her to stop for a
moment and look round : she saw the soldiers she had
just passed all returning quickly to the houses, and only
an officer, who, to her great annoyance, had closely fol'
17
194 AT ODM.
lowed her ttora the hoBpital, was nishiog onwards, his
cloak no longer concealing bis face and person, bat so
firing backwards in order not to impede his progress
that she instantly recognized Frank, and, greatly irri-
tated at his having watched and fnghtened her anno-
cessarily, she resolved to ran on to the next street and
enter a shop where she and her &mily were well known.
* Hilda ! Hilda 1" ho shoated, in a voice that was hoarse
from alarm, bat which she supposed denoted angry com-
mand, and, instantly resolving not to obey, she parsued
her coarse antil she perceived that a shell was actaally
descending in the direction of the shed towards which
she was so madly harrying : she saw it strike the earth,
whirl roand, barrow in the groand, which it seemed to
excavate; bat before it burst and the havoc commenced,
and while she stood almost paralyzed by terror, she felt
herself encircled by a strong arm and drawn with great
violence to a considerable distance, where, though partly
sheltered by a wall, Frank's efforts could not altogether
save her from the blows of splintered wood, pieces of
brick, stones, and a shower of lime and sand.
Hilda remained perfectly quiet antil she perceived
that Frank relaxed his grasp of her arm: then she
asked, with a great effort to conceal her terror, if the
danger were over.
"For this time, yes T he answered; " and I now wish
to heaven you were safe at home l"-
So do I" she said, shaking off the lime and sand
that powdered her blue casimir dress; " but you need not
come with me,'' she added, ' for I am not in the least
afraid of being alone I"
" So I perceive,'' said Frank, a good deal piqued, bot
greatly admiring her courage. ' It is, however, so'late
that I must insist on accompanying you to the Danube
Gate : will you not take my arm ?"
THE BOMBABDMENT. 105
"No: thank you."
They walked on for some time in silence, frequently
pMsing. the watch-fires of the soldiers^ and avoiding as
mmch as possible the clouds of smoke, illumined by
i^arks and flashes of flame^ that were wafbed to and fVro
m the streets.
^ The wind is rising," observed Frank : " I fear we
shall have a stormy night, in every sense of the word."
"Very likely," she answered; "and I should think
these flres must be very dangerous with so much wind
to blow the flame in all directions."
"Perhaps so," said Frank; "but they are indispen-
sable."
** As to the bombardment," she continued, " that will
not last long, or do much injury to the town."
"Indeed!"
" Captain d'Esterre says they will only fire for an
hoar or so, at intervals, to convince your generals that
farther resistance is useless."
Frank did not at all like hearing such painful truths
firom Hilda's lips, pronounced, too, with scarcely con-
cealed exultation; and he therefore answered, rather
scoflingly, "Of course Louis I mean Captain d'Bs-
terre ^must be right; and I should be glad to ffear any
other words of wisdom that he may have uttered. Your
-iiemory, I know, is good."
Her memory was good, and carried her back to the
attic in the tower of Forsteck, where Frank had de-
rided her want of judgment and upbraided her with
the continual repetition of other people's opinions. The
recollection made her blush until her cheeks tingled;
she had spoken to him merely to prove her self-posses-
sion and indifference to his presence, and he had con-
vinced her that a word from him could chafe her beyond
endurance. No reply occurred to her; and, even had it,
190 AT ODDS.
she could not at that moment have articulated withoot
bursting into tears of anger and mortification. To
avoid this, and fearing she might otherwise betray her
feelings, she yielded to the impulse that prompted flight,
and, while Frank waited for an answer to a speech he
half regretted having made, she sprang from his side,
and was actually out of sight before he had recovered
from his astonishment.
As a matter of course, he instantly started in pursuit,
and, forgetting for the moment all the anxiety that had
preyed upon his mind for weeks, he rushed along the
streets in a state of eager excitement, that increased
whenever he occasionally caught a glimpse of his fugi-
tive bride. He nearly overtook her when she was pass-
ing a large fire, as, in order not to attract attention, she
there slackened her pace to a quiet walk ; but he was
obliged, for appearance' sake, to do nearly the same:
nevertheless, he evidently gained ground, and by one
great effort came up to her just before she reached a
bivouac so near her home that the light from the fire
was reflected from all the window-panes, and the carved
oak gate of the Waldering house was made distinctly
yisible.
Franl^ caught her arm, drew her towards bim, and
panted some incoherent assurances that he had not
intended to give offense : she did not answer, or even
listen to him, but, struggling with violence to release
herself from his arms, pushed him from her with a
gesture of abhorrence, and then ran on to the watch-fire.
He followed with long strides, accompanying her to tiie
open gate, beside which he stood until she passed him
and entered the house.
MOEX AT ODM THAIT BYBR. 197
CHAPTER XXI.
MORE AT ODDS THAN EYEB.
This state of affairs could not last macb longer, and
daring the coarse of the ensaing day a convention was
signed, bj which the fortress of TTlm was to be given np,
and the whole garrison to lay down its arms, if not
relieved by a Eassian or Austrian army before the end
of another week. In the mean time a detachment of
French troops were allowed to enter the town, put in
possession of the Goecklinger and Frauen Gkites, and
quartered in the houses, already crowded with Aus-
trians. The bridges were repaired with wood, the com
munication with the neighborhood re-established, and,
as a matter of coarse, all the French prisoners restored
to liberty.
Louis d'Esterre make some very polite and appro-
priate speeches when taking leave, concluding with a
fluent low-toned declaration of devotion to Doris, as sho
stood a little apart from the others at a window, discon-
solately watching some French chasseurs taking posses-
sion of the Grecian temple in the garden. She listened
patiently, or rather apathetically, and, when he ceased
speaking, quietly held out her hand, saying, ^^AdieUy
Louis I Je ne puis pas badiner aujourd^hui.''
Sigmund, who was within hearing, laughed unre-
strainedly.
Louis d'Esterre shrugged his shoulders, and laughed
with him. ' Selas ! I am the enemy to-day," he said^
bowing over her hand ; but I still will hope my lofe
will be retnrned."
IT*
198 AT 0]H8.
At the foot of the stairs he met some chasseurs of
his regiment, who greeted him enthusiastically, and,
following them into the garden, he saw what he sup-
posed the cause of Doris's displeasure. Not onlj was
the temple filled with French soldiers, hut a clump of
rose-trees and flowering shrubs had been torn up by the
roots, to make a clear space for a large fire, the fuel for
which was being carried in armsfull from the ac^aoent
wood-house.
"I canpot prevent that," he murmured; "nor this
either,'' he added, as some flower-pots containing vala-
abie plants were pitched out of one of the windows of
the temple : the men have no time for gardening just
now I" A moment after he caught a glimpse of Frank
through the branches of the nearly leafless trees, as he
was sitting on the low wall at the end of the garden,
gazing thoughtfully into the river, and did not even
move when Louis, advancing quickly towards him,
ealled out, " Holdj Frangois /"
" My name is Frank," was the answer.
" Je comprens the tongue is unpalatable "
Very," said Frank, without looking up, though ha
felt D'Esterre's hand on his shoulder, and did not for a
moment doubt that the young Frenchman was looking
at him kindly.
" I have got private notice, Frank ; our Empereur -will
not, cannot, wait until the 25th. If you have arrange-
ment to make, do not delay."
"He must wait!" cried Frank, vehemently. "If 1
were in command, I would not yield an hour before the
time stipulated !"
But you are not in command, man cher, and ^and
for what good to prolong this state of things? Tour
marshal has agreed to surrender ^to-morrow."
*' Where? when?" cried Frank, starting up.
MORS AT Omra THAN STSB. 199
" At Elcbingen, two three hoars ago.'*
"Unconditionally?" asked Frank, impetuously.
"JV-o-n; Ney is to remain here until the 26th."
" Do you mean/' cried Frank, " that all the other
troops are placed at your disposition for ulterior opera-
tions? at once? ^without even a week's delay?"
"We have only gained five days," said D'Esterre, half
apologetically, *and it is in vain your expecting the
Russians, for they have not indeed reached Bohemia ;
this, and the state of the neighborhood, and want of
provisions "
'' Eeasons enough, I suppose," said Frank, again seat*
log himself on the wall.
"And you, 7Mn ami, may rejoice "
" I should like to know for what ?" cried Frank, with
a grim smile.
"That you are no longer a Hohenlohe dragoon I"
" You mean that, not being included in the capitula-
tion, I am spared to-morrow's humiliation, and may
soon use my sword again. Yes ; that is a consolation."
"Ah, ha! notre chere Doris had reason when she said,
* What is, is best V and now adieu 1"
" Farewell !" said Frank. " I hope that when we next
meet it will be under pleasanter circumstances. Forgive
my brusquerie during the last few weeks, D'Esterre ; you
know I have had both public and private griefs enough
for a whole life I"
"Adieu, O'More; we have no time to talk or think
cf either griefs or joys just now. Adieu I"
Frank turned towards the river, and seemed to watch
some men constructing a large raft from the remains of
several others that had been prepared to float down
the Danube to Vienna some days previously. The wood
had been required for temporary sheds and other pur*
poses, but enough was left to make it still worth while
200 AT ODDS.
to undertake the toilsome drift. Large tmnks of care-
Ailly-barked trees were firmly lashed together, and fur-
nished with radders and a hut resembling a miniature
log house. Frank whistled shrilly, and a man in leather
boots that partly covered his thighs looked round, and
soon after, with the assistance of some others, brouglit
the raft under the garden-wall.
" To-morrow afternoon," said Frank, ** between twelve
and two o'clock, I shall be ready. If you can manage
to be here at that time, so much the better; if not, tell
one of the Elchingen boatmen to take me up, and I can
follow you down the river."
The man touched his cap, and then brought the rafb
back to its former moorings ; while Frank, slowly rising,
prepared to go into the town and obtain minute in-
formation concerning the capitulation.
The first person he met confirmed D'Esterre's state-
ment. The capitulation had been actually signed at
Elchingen, and the garrison were to march out of ITlm
the next day and defile before Napoleon with all the
honors of war previous to laying down their arms.
Kow, though there was not a youthful Austrian lieute-
nant who had not long been aware that, with five-and-
twenty thousand men in an ill-fortified town and sur-
rounded by Napoleon's whole army, nothing else could
be expected than a surrender at discretion, the universal
grief and mortification were boundless. Not one under-
took the defense of the unfortunate commander, and
few, in that ill-starred hour, attempted even to vindi-
cate the unavoidable and long-foreseen capitulation,
which competent judges have since pronounced an in-
evitable consequence of a previous error, ^the having
neglected to retreat into Tyrol while it was still possible
to do so.
The preparationA for this parade were bingularly
MOBB AT ODD THAN SVSR. 201
tranquil, and the French quartered in the towo, with
that tact and good feeling which ^ven their bitterest
enemies must acknowledge them to possess, avoided
80 effectually giving umbrage to their irritated or sullen
fbes that not the slightest quarrel or disorder took
place.
The next day, when Pallersberg came to take leave
of Frank, he found him walking up and down the de-
serted drawing-room in the Waldering house in a state
of restless excitement. His aunt and Doris stood at
a window looking into the street, ^not to watch the in-
habitants of the town hurrying eagerly towards the.
Michaelsberg to be present at what was to them merely
a grand military pageant, but in order to wave a fare-
well to the numerous officers and men who had so long
been quartered in their house as they dejectedly assem-
bled on the open space beneath.
"This is a bitter parting, Frank," said Pallersberg;
' but if any thing could reconcile me to your having left
our regiment, it would be tf^at you are spared what we
must endure an hour hence I"
I am not spared!" cried Frank, vehemently. *'I
feel it here I I shall feel and in imagination see it all
as distinctly as if riding beside our poor fellows, not one
of whom I am ever likely to see again V
"Who can tellf" said Pallersberg, with forced cheer-
fulness; "imprisonment is not death! Come, Frank,
leave Ulm as soon as you can, and do not let your
thoughts rest upon an event which you can neither
avert nor ameliorate. I see you are prepared for your
journey or voyage, whichever you choose to call it:
nothing can be better adapted to a raft than those
water-proof boots, and indeed your whole dress, which,
I suppose, is sailor-fashion. An hour sooner or later
makes no differeoce Step on your raft when I mount
AT ODUS.
my hone, and let as wait nntil we meet in Vienna to
talk over this day's disaster. Come "
*^I must take leave of my annt ^and D3ri8y'' said
Frank; hesitating.
** Bo it quickly, then } it is nnlike yourself being so
dilatory!"
" But I want ^I wish^-confound it, Pallersberg, you
cannot expect me to go off without speaking a few
words to Hilda r
^Then make haste," answered Pallersberg; forI
saw her horse saddled as I came into the house, imd she
never keeps Selim waiting.''
Her horse!" exclaimed Frank, changing color.
''Her horse! and saddled? In the name of all the
fiends, where is she going to ride on such a day as
this?"
Pallersberg, who perceived the consternation his
words had caused, hesitated, and then stammered some-
thing about a natural wish for exercise after such long
confinement : ^the Director^ould probably choose some
quiet road.
"He will not!" cried Frank, violently; "you know
he won't. They are going to the Micbaelsberg to wit-
ness this accursed parade, to feast their eyes on the
anguish of our officers and the despair of our men I By
Heaven, she shall not go!" And, breaking from Pal-
lersberg's detaining hand, he rushed down the stairs
and reached the vaulted passage below, while the
horses were still stamping impatiently on the wood
pavement.
Sigmund had just vaulted into his saddle, the Di
rector was slowly mounting, and Hilda, drawing up the
reins with one hand, bent over Selim's arched neck, and
with the other arranged his long waving mane. She
had just been given her whip, and was looking roonct
MORE AT OVSm THAR EVER. 203
to see if her ancle were' ready, when Frank, pale with
Biippressed passion, mshed forward, laid his hand on
her bridle, and, in a hoarse whisper, asked where she was
going.
To the Michaelsberg to see Napoleon,'' she an-
swered, fearlessly, her cheeks flashing and her eyes
flashing.
'Yoa shall not go, ^I insist on year dismoanting
instantly," he cried, laying his hand impetaoasly on
Selim's bridle.
The horse reared so frightfally that he threw his arm
round her, fearing an accident.
* Keep off, Frank, ^take your hand from my bridle.
I desire ^I insist^ "
He obeyed, bat placed it hiBavlly on the neck of the
irritated animal, while he looked ap and again indig*
nantly commanded her to dismount.
"No, I will not; you have told me *to go where I
please and do what I like,' and this is the first use I
make of my liberty."
Though the quotation of his own words was by no
means calculated to restore Frank's equanimity, it at least
reminded him that he ought to remonstrate rather than
command ; but he enforced his few unintelligible words
of angry expostulation by a strong grasp of the bridle,
and Hilda, instead of listening to him, raised her whip,
and a moment after it descended with a sharp whit-
tling sound on Selim's neck and Frank's retaining hand.
With one wild bound the horse carried her through the
gateway, and was immediately heard galloping madly,
over the pavement of the street, while Frank, unpre-
pared for the shock, was dashed against the wall with
great violence, and staggered along it until he came in
contact with Pallersberg's shoulder, on which he leaned
until the Director, riding up close to him, bent down
2M AT OOD8.
&nd whispered, ' Don't leave Ulm, F^nk, notil after
our return this evening; you had better make it up
with Hilda, for though she may be self-willed, yoa have
been far more bo."
Doris and her mother, who, standing at the foot of
the staircase, had witnessed this scene In silent dismay,
and Pallersberg, who knew not whether to reproach or
console his friend, now watched him as, standing up-
right, he fixed his eyes for a moment on his hand,
across which a broad crimson welt was very conspi-
caous. The fingers closed convulsively, the clenched
hand was raised. Frank struck his forehead violently,
and then, without uttering a word, he sprang through
the court into the garden, where, vaulting over the
wall, he suddenly disappeared.
When Doris, her mother, and Pallersberg followed,
the raft on which he had alighted was already in the
middle of the Danube; but they saw him leaning on
the low roof of the hut erected on it, his head buried
on his outstretched arms, and apparently so indif-
ferent to all around him that the violent rolling
and frequent immersion of the raft as it entered the
current of the flooded river was totally unheeded
by him. '
** I am sorry I was the cause of this rude parting,*'
said Pallersberg, when taking leave; '^but my head
was so full of other matters that I quite forgot how
unlikely it was that Frank should know of the pro-
jected ride."
Long after Pallersberg was gone, Doris and her
mother stood leaning on the wall, gazing in the direc-
tion where the raft had disappeared. It was a con-
tinuation of Doris's thoughts when she observed that
Hilda's determination to see Kapoleon was most unfor-
tunate."
MORE AT ODDS THAN EVER. . 205
" It is very natural," said her mother, " and quite to
be ozpected, after all she has lately heard of him. The
day chosen for the gratification of her curiosity is cer-
tainly most unfortunate as far as Frank is concerned,
and partly excuses his extreme violence."
" Do you think/' asked Doris, "they can ever be re-
conciled after what has just occurred V
" Yes, Doris ; the actions of both were violent, but
without lasting consequences, and the words few and
not easily recalled. Such deeds make less impression
than a very few bitter words."
" True," said Doris ; " but the bitter words have not-
been spared, either."
" Then we can only hope," rejoined her mother,
" that when Frank recalls this parting he will scarcely
wonder that Hilda did not obey commands so peremp-
torily uttered, and take into consideration that this is
her first offense, while he has treated her since their
marriage with the most unnecessary rudeness, affecting
an aversion that it is quite impossible he can have
felt."
* I am afraid, dear mother, the motive of his con-
duct was a wish to prove the depth of his affection
for mie."
" I can understand that to a certain extent," answered
her mother ; ^ but he need not have been so absolutely
repulsive."
* I think," said Doris, hesitatingly," I fear that
dear Hilda made too many efforts to conciliate. She
let him see how much she loved him, and few men ^I
mean Frank ^in short, mamma, it is better never to
let any man know the extent of one's regard : they only
presume upon it and become tyrants."
" Excellently argued, Doris, and that you will act so
I have no doubt; but Hilda loves Frank "
18 * . .
206 . AT ODDS.
Well, BO did bo do I, mamma.''
TeB, my dear, calmly and rationally, as a cousin
who has been a brother to you."
Oh, mamma, a little more; or else I could not have
promised to marry him even ten years hence I"
Her mother shook her head. " As you Jiave loved, you
will, and may love him as long as he lives, Doris.''
"I should be glad to think so, mamma. And Frank?"
He must be given time, and Hilda will, I hope, have
patience and forgive him."
"I am sure she will," said Doris, "and far more easily
than I could."
"That's it, Doriji; Hilda will submit to almost any
amount of ill treatment from him, because she loves him,
^not rationally, as you do, but passionately."
At this moment they heard the sound of distant mili-
tary music. It was the bands of the Austrian regiments
marching out of XJlm to capitulate, and the gay strains
sounded sad, ^as all music does when heard by the
sorrowful.
*
In the mean time Hilda, when joined by her uncle
and Sigmund, rode quickly on, through the ibrauen Gate,
towards the Michaelsberg, where about thirty-six thou-
sand French had taken their position, the cavalry be-
tween the town and the hill, and so facing the infantry
that the space between was left clear for the capitulat-
^^g garrison. The weather was as clear and fine as it
had previously been inclement, and the greater number
of the inhabitants of TJlm swarmed through the gate,
and sought places where they were likely to have a
complete view of a scene alike pompous and painful.
Hilda was the only lady on horseback in the field, and
f
MORE AT ODDS THAN EVER. 207
her black Yelvet habit and plumed hat caused some sen-
sation, ^attracted also the attention of Louis d'Esterrej
who immediately procured X a place for her whence she
could see Napoleon and all else likely to interest her.
They were soon surrounded by a number of French
ofScers, friends of D'Esterre's, and, while Hilda laughed
and talked with them, no one could have supposed that
Bhe was more depressed and hopelessly unhappy than
fihe had ever been in her life. Her heart and thoughts
were with Frank, and, from the moment it occurred to
her that he might have left TJlm before she reached
home, she forgot every thing in the strong desire to re-
turn to the town, to see him again, and at least part
peaceably from him. Not for any consideration, how-
ever, would she have allowed her uncle, still less Sig-
mnnd, to suspect she entertaii^ed such thoughts : on the
contrary, when Napoleon, followed by his numerous
brilliant and somewhat theatrical-looking staff, arrived
from Elchingen, and was received with shouts and musiC|
she pressed forward with quite as much apparent eager-
ness as the others, and as immediately afterwards the
Austrian garrison marched through the Frauen Gate,
she joined the crowd closing round the spot where the
Emperor had halted, surrounded by a host of French
and Austrian generals, all of whom were men of celebrity, .
whose names have since become historical.
Under the appearance of perfect serenity. Napoleon
concealed the exultation he undoubtedly felt : he spoke'
politely to the Austrian generals of the chances of war,
said that though so often victorious they must expect
to be sometimes vanquished, and assured them of his
earnest desire for peace I They bowed gravely; but, as
their troops defiled before the conqueror, many a hand
raised in salute concealed eyes moist with tears of bitter
* resentment or glowing in suppressed rage!
SOS AT ODDS.
Far the French army, and eepeciallj for Napoleon,
that military pageant was an intoxicating spectacle,
and, undisturbed by a knowledge of the future, he en-
joyed his triumph. He could not foresee that on the
succeeding day his fleet would be completely destroyed
by Nelson at Trafalgar; still less could the idea present
itself that exactly eight years from the capitulation of
ITlm on. the same day of the month, at the same
hour he and his army would be flying from Leipsic,
after having met with a far greater disaster; while
those very regiments now marching sullenly past him
would, when reorganized and under the command of an
Austrian general at that moment close beside him,
eventually assist in dethroning him and procuring a
peace that he would have no further power to disturb.
CHAPTEE XXIL
QTJIE80EN0S.
Thx Austrians left T71m, and a French garrison under
General Labassee took their place. Marshal Ney also
made the town his head-quarters for a week or ten
days, during which time the ball-rooms of the hotels
' were again put into requisition, and a sort of zriild
moral compulsion used to induce the wives and daugh-
ters of the residents to appear at the ^ Golden Stag/'
Baum Stark," "The Wheel," and elsewhere. That
many were concealed in cellars, and still- more sent off
privately to visit distant relations, became subsequently
known. Nevertheless, as a German woman can on an
average dance twice as much as any other, the balls'
QUIESCENGS. 2lh
were gaj enough, and before long all the yonng ladies
were unanimous in declaring that when dancing quad^
riiles the French officers were inimitable^ but in walts-
ing perfectly execrable.
Hilda, on her return from the Hichaelsberg, had im
mediately walked into the garden, and straight to the
wall where Frank had been seated three hours pre*
viously. Leaning over it, she glanced hastily across
and down the river, raised her hand to shade her eyes
from the glow of sunset, and looked intently again and
again, as if unwilling to believe that the raft she sought
was no longer there, then turned slowly away, and, as
she gathered up the folds of her habit, her eyes fell on
her small gold-headed riding-whip, just then a so un-
pleasant remembrancer that, without a moment's hesi-
tation, she jerked it into the Danube. How much sorrow
and regret she flung away with the whip it would be
hard to say : certain it is that she not only returned
with perfect self-possession to the house, but even
thought it necessary to prove her stoicism by stopping
a moment in the yard to speak to Sigmund as he stood
with folded arms inspecting the operation of roof-
washing.
Hilda asked no questions about Frank, and for a long
time sedulously avoided naming him. She was at first
unwilling to accompany her uncle and grandmother to
the balls given by the French officers, but a few jesting
remarks of Sigmund's made her suppose it absolutely
necessary that she should be seen in public and that
people should know she was perfectly happy.
In strong contrast to these festivities were the snf
ferings of the poorer inhabitants of the town, who,
absolutely impoverished by the number of soldiers bil*
leted in the houses and the increasing prices of the
commonest necessaries of life, had latterly beep at
18
210 AT ODDS.
timM in actual want of food; but it was not until after
the capitulation and restored communication with the
neighborhood that they became aware of the total de-
struction of all the fields and gardens in the vicinity.
It was necessaiy to make excursions to the places
where the army had only remained a day or two, or
where engagements had taken place, to form an idea of
the state of wretchedness to which the people were re-
duced. That the generals disapproved of .and endea-
vored to prevent all excesses is beyond a doubt ; but
where an army of upwards of a hundred thousand
men, only carrying provisions for a day or two with
them, literally overspread a country, the consequences
must be ruin to the inhabitants. In the province oi
Bwabia, to which TJlm belonged, there were more than
a hundred districts where the people were deprived of
food, furniture, farming-implements, cattle, and even
the necessary grain for seed. In the villages in which
the troops had been stationed, houses had been pulled
down to furnish fuel for the watch-fires, and the inmates
in a few hours reduced to beggary ; and few parts of
the country had sufi^ered more fatally than that in
which Hilda's newly-acquired property was situated.
Afber her first ride to Forsteck with her uncle, she
seemed to have no thought beyond that of procuring
money to alleviate the universal distress. He greatly
approved of her subscribing a larger sum of money
than most of the other patrician families, but he could
not at all understand her determination to give the
inhabitants of Forsteck all the wood they required to
rebuild their houses, and he positively declined to assist
her in selling out of the Funds at a heavy loss. At last
he complained of her to her mother, and recommended
a return to Westenried without delay.
" If she really cannot do any thing more for these un-
QUIXSOENCE. 211
fortanate people," was his sister-itt-law's reply, " 1 shall,
of course, propose our leaving TJlm/'
** You must not aUow her to do any thing more/' he
said, decidedly ; " it would he unpardonable if we per-
mitted a girl of seventeen to squander her fortune 'in
this manner, and people might say I neglected to warn
her because she had not married my son. It is scarcely
an hour since she sold her horse to a French officer
without consulting any one V
"Sold Selim I" cried Doris 3 "for what purpose ?"
** To assist a miller at Forsteck whose wife and chil-
dren came here yesterday and whined and whimpered
for an hour in her room. I never^ieard of such extra-
vagance V
"This is not extravagance," said his sister-in-law;
"it is charity, and the purest instance of generosity I
have heard of for a long time. I do not imagine
that Hilda could have made a greater sacrifice than
selling Selim."
"She will not be able to replace him for a good
while," said the Director, grimly; "but, as I said
before, she cannot do more for these people than she
has done. It was her and your wish that the greater
part of her funded property should be settled upon
Frank ; and so "
Here Hilda entered the room, followed by Mina, who
seemed to be expostulating with her, for she said, when
closing the door, " But you know, Hilda, your grand-
mother will not go to the ball without you, and I am
actually engaged for all the quadrilles."
" I am sorry to interfere with your amusement, Mina,
but I do not intend to go to any more balls. Mamma
and Doris were quite right to stay at home. It is very
unfeeling of us to dance and feast while the poor people
about us are weeping and starving."
213 AT ODDB.
'^ Your staying at home will not ,do them any good/'
persisted Mina.
'^ I know that ; hut in thinking of them I have lost
all interest in balls and all inclination to dance/'
**0h, I understand what that really means/' cried
Hina, laughing ; * but why cannot you dance quadrilles
with the French and keep the waltzes for our own
people V
" I don't choose to dance again, with 'either French
or German," said Hilda, decidedly.
"I suppose," observed Mina, rather sarcastically,
Hhat Doris has been giving advice, and pointing out
the impropriety of "
"No I" cried Hilda, interrupting her petulantly; "I
have learned at last to think and speak for myself."
"With a vengeance!" exclaimed the Director, who
was walking up and down the room, his hands, as usual,
clasped behind his back.
" I wish I had done so sooner," she continued, with
some excitement; "for a little of what mamma calls
firmness of character would have saved me, and some
others, much grief and endless regret."
"I hope, however," said her* mother, "that this
newly-acquired firmness will not occasionally degene-
rate into obstinacy."
" No, mamma, never I"
"Your self-reliance makes me doubtful," said her
mother, smiling.
" And I am more than doubtful," interposed the Di-
rector; " for, after explaining the absolute necessity of
new-roofing this house, and of repairing the damage
done at Forsteck, and new-stocking the farm there, she
still expects to have money for every one who asks
for it."
" Oh, no, uncle I I quite understand all you said to
QinSSOENOE. 2l3
me this morning, and expe^^t nothing from you now hut
papers covered with long rows of figures, accompanied
by still longer lectures on economy."
" And what/' said the Director, testily, " what is the
use of my lecturing when I have no power to control ?
It is monstrous to think that a girl of your age can
make ducks and drakes of such a property I"
^'I don't intend to make ducks and drakes of it,''
answered Hilda, demurely; "I was not even aware,
until now, that I was so completely at liberty."
" Your husband," he replied, with emphasis, " is the
only person to whom you are henceforward respon-
sible in such matters."
"Then," said Hilda, ^'as he declines all concern in
my affairs, I must beg of you to continue your guard-
ianship until I have learned to understand something
of business myself. I will even promise not to be un-
reasonable and extravagant for a long time to come,
and, if you and mamma wish it, will put myself out of
temptation by leaving XTlm to-morrow, and going at
once to Westenried."
" Westenried I" exclaimed Mina: "you will die of
ennui there, after the gayety we have enjoyed here."
" Gayety ! enjoyment !" repeated Hilda ; " God in his
mercy defend me from such gayety for the rest of my
life!"
" And mine," said Doris, in a low voice.
" We shall not die of ennui/* observed their mother ;
'^ on the contrary, I am convinced the tranquillity of
Westenried will be most welcome to us all after the
harrowing scenes we have witnessed here. Let us re-
turn there as soon as possible."
^ *
214 AT ODDS.
The journey home (which now oonld be made in biz
hours) reqaired then three whole days. The Director,
his mother, and Mina, proceeded no farther than Mnnich;
but Sigmund chose to go on to Westenried with the
others, and it was late on the evening of the third day as
the heavily-packed carriages rolled slowly into the conrt.
The hall-door and staircase were decorated with wreaths
of fir-tree branches, enlivened by the last asters of the
season placed at intervals, and the word ^ Welcome" was
conspicuous over the entrance to their apartments on
the second floor. Old Mr. Pallersberg followed them
up the stairs, while his wife remained with Sigmund on
the first floor, giving his servant various directions and
a good deal of unnecessary assistance.
'If you had only let me know that you were also
coming, Count Sigmund,'' she said, with ill-concealed
annoyance, "you would have found your rooms heated
and every thing in order; but I shall put all to rights
when you go up-stairs to supper."
I shall not go up-stairs to supper/' said Sigmund.
And why not V
" Because I am not invited."
Madame Pallersberg looked at him inquiringly.
Have you forgotten the changes that have taken
place," he asked, " and that my position in my aunt's
family is quite different from what it was ?"
" Well, no; but she is your aunt still, and Mina wrote
us that every thing had been amicably arranged as far
as you are concerned."
"Oh, very amicably," said Sigmund; "but I can
neither go to supper to-night, nor to dinner to-morrow,
without an invitation : so you must keep house for me."
" Beginning," she said, " to-morrow, I hope; for, after
having lived so long on potatoes and cheese, you really
must have some of the magnificent turkey I have pro-
QUIS8CVN0E. 215
Tided for the supper np-siairB. Mina wrote, however,
that, with all the Btarratioa at T71m, it was an uncom*
monly gay and sociable place."
"I believe she amased herself very -w^ell/' said Sig-
mund; Hhe Austrian and French officers paid her a
good deal of attention, and Mina likes that sort of thing/'
Well, I suppose it's natural at her age/' said Madame
Pnllersberg; " but I would rather hear of one proposal
of marriage than of a score of admirers. I cannot help
fearing, Count Sigmund, that our Mina has been a little
spoiled by the grand people she meets at your grand-
mother's : they have given her quite a hankering after
fine names and rank. I spoke to her several times when
Bhe was. last here, and told her that counts and barons
were often very poor, and would not, or could not,
marry her, as she had no fortune ; while those who were
rich would never condescend to think of her at all."
"And what did she say in answer f" asked Sigmund.
"Not much: that, generally speaking, I was right,
but that there were exceptions to all rules. There is no
doubt, however, that she was very much out of spirits
when here, and I latterly began to fear " here she
paused and looked hard at him, in fact, I strongly
suspected she was suffering from an ill-placed, hopeless
attachment."
"Bless my soulT' cried Sigmund; ^*you don't mean
to insinuate that she too was captivated by the irre-
sistible Cousin Frank'? You know, of course, that both
Doris and Hilda were over head and ears in love with
him?"
"No, Count Sigmund: I thought of a more natural
and probable attachment."
"You mean Emmeran ? I have never observed any
thing of the kind ) but it is hard to judge, where such
great intimacy exists."
216 AT ODDS.
" If it be Count Emmeran," she said, gravely, " I hope
he will act honorably, and not raise hopes that mast be
disappointed, nor make promises that he cannot perform/'
Jast then her husband appeared at the door, and
announced himself as the bearer of an invitation to
sapper, not only to Sigmand, but also to his wife.
" Well, I am glad you are to have a slice of that
turkey," she said, leading the way np-stairs : " how you
will relish it after the potatoes and cheese of XTlm !"
CHAPTER XXIII.
ANOTHEB H0L7 EYE.
The tranquillity of Westenried proved acceptable to
all its inmates; afad, after receiving from Pallersberg
an account of the battle of Austerlitz, and assurances
of Frank's safety, the succeeding peace of Presburg and
its consequences furnished deeply interesting and con-
stant subject of conversation during the winter. Bava-
ria became a kingdom on the 1st of January, 1806; and
in the following August the Emperor Franz II., resign-
ing the crown of the Holy Eoman Empire, with the
declaration that, under existing circumstances, he could
no longer consider himself Emperor of Germany, as-
sumed, as Franz I., the title of Emperor of Austria,
and the German Empire thenceforward belonged to
history. ' \
During the ensuing autumn, the Director, his mother,
and Mina Pallersberg returned to Westenried ; and when
Emmeran joined them for a short time in October, they
were (Frank's absence excepted) precisely the same
, party that had been there together two years previously.
ANOTHXE HOLT XYB. 217
The same, yet not the same; for much was changed in
that short time. Sigmnnd, who had only been absent
for a few weeks in winter, had managed by degrees to
regain his former intimacy in his aunt's family. Hilda
openly avowed that she Uked him infinitely better as
cousin than as fiance; and Doris, whose mind was just
then completely engrossed by Dr. Gall's newly-disco-
vered system of phrenology, either seemed, or really
was, unconscious of the &ct that he had resumed his
previous position by tacitly substituting her for Hilda.
The arrival of his grandmother and her companion
Mina caused Sigmund great annoyance, as he well knew
how difficult it would be to conceal his present hopes
and plans concerning Doris from either of them. From
his grandmother he only apprehended being forced into
premature explanations ; but to Mina he had some years
previously made a promise of marriage should any
chance ever release him from his engagement to Hilda.
In Ulm he had assured her repeatedly of the impossi*
bility of ever obtaining his father's consent, and would
now unhesitatingly have told her the truth, that he no
longer entertained a thought of fulfilling a promise so
imprudently made, had he not feared an explanation
and appeal on her part to Doris. This induced him to
continue to temporize. He avoided Doris, spent most
of his time shooting and fishing; and so it happened
that Hilda and her sister resumed their walks, and rows
on the lake together, and unconsciously recommenced
the confidential intercourse that had ceased by mutual
consent on the day that Frank had left Ulm. His name,
however, had never been mentioned until one afternoon
towards the end of October, when, as they walked to-
gether .in the garden, Doris observed,
" This is the anniversary of your wedding-day, Hilda:
I wish you many happy returns of it."
19
218 AT OBDB.
' Thank you, dear," she replied : " I am, at all events,
eiy much happier than this time last year/'
"I suppose," continued Doris, ^that hearing of
Frank's promotion gave you great pleasure V*
"Of course it did/'
*'And, a ^Hilda, mamma and I were considering this
morning if it would not on this occasion be advisable for
you to write a few lines of congratulation, by way of
commencing some sort of communication with him, and
just on this day "
"No, Doris; neither this day nor any other. I should
despise myself if I ever again made the slightest ad-
vance to him ; and I am quite sure you would not do
any thing of the kind were you in my place/'
"I don't know that," said Doris; "it makes an im-
mense difference when one is actually married; and I do
believe I should consider it a duty to make every effort
to gain his heart after having accepted his hand/'
"Very likely you are right, Doris; you generally are;
but I can bear no more repulses, and the next over-
ture must come from him/'
" But," suggested Doris, "it may be long before you
meet if you trust to chance, or let things take their
course/'
"How long?" asked Hilda.
Doris was silent.
"You think," said Hilda, " that he may wait until the
end of the time stipulated, ^the whole ten years ?"
" N o," answered Doris, reluctantly; " I cannot think
he will have resolution to absent himself so long from
us : he is too warm-hearted."
" It is a pity, Doris, you had not studied Dr. Gall's
system of phrenology before Frank left us; we could
then have balanced his organ of firmness against bis
warm heart."
ANOTHXB noi^ mri. 219
Doris stopped for a moment, and looked keenly at her
Bister. That Hilda had gradually regained her former
gayety had long become evident, but that she could
actually speak of Frank with smiling lips and a cheerful
Toice was, nevertheless, rather surprising.
"I believe your organ of firmness is very consider-
able,'' said Doris.
I thought," rejoined Hilda, archly, "that people
generally called firmness, when possessed by women
obstinacy. But you need not explain. Call it what you
please, Doris, I have resolved not to accept the pity so
universally offered me, and to banish Frank altogether
from my thoughts."
"But can you do so, Hilda ?"
Why not? I have nothing to remind me of him,
and I still hope we may be able to prevent my mother
from commencing a correspondence that I am convinced
will only make matters worse. He does not want to hear
of or from us^ for Mina told me it was out of considera-
tion for me that her brother's last letter was not read
aloud, because in it he mentioned that Frank had led
the gayest possible life among the most fiEishionable
people in Vienna during the Carnival, ^making himself,
as usual, remarkable by all sorts of wild exploits, and
unreservedly paying attention to every handsome woman
he met. He is now on a visit somewhere in Hungary,
where, by all accounts ^"
^' Mina need not have told you all this," said Doris,
hastily.
"I am very much obliged to her," rejoined Hilda:
" she has made my task much easier. I can scarcely
imagine a better remedy for my foolish infatuation about
Frank than the certainty of his not being worthy of the
admiration and ardent afPSaction I felt for him."
"But, after all," said Doris, quietly, "what has he
280 AT OIM.
done? ThewarisoTerfbr the present in Austria: why
should not people begin to enjoy themselves again?
Frank learns Polish and Hungarian dances, ^is liked as
a partner and invited to balls^ ^he rides well, becomes
intimate with his comrades, and goes to spend a few
weeks with some of them in some out-of-the-way place
where a number of gay people are assembled : ^where
is the barm in all this?''
" None ^to you, Doris, or your rational affection ; but
I I feel jealous ^horribly jearlou& of all these hand-'
some women who have made him so utterly forget me."
"That was what I feared," said Doris; and there-
fore I avoided mentioning this letter, though I can
assure you it was written lightly and kindly, and with-
out any intention of provoking either anger or jealousy.
Mina forgot to tell you that no one person is especially
mentioned; and you well know that Frank is both na-
turally and habitually attentive to all women. If this
be your only reason for not writing to him ''
"No, Doris," she answered, resuming suddenly her
' former cheerM manner ; "this is only one of my many
and good reasons for not writing; but, were I to do so,
it would be impossible to resist the temptation to tell
him that Sigmund had been appointed to his place, and
was now playing the part of friendly, rational lover to
you, with the prospect of a marriage ten years hence !"
" A marriage with Mina Pallersberg, perhaps," said
Doris : " she told me, soon after her arrival here, that
she and Sigmund had been definitively engaged from the
day of your marriage."
" From the day of my marriage ?" repeated Hilda,
slowly.
" Yes, dear : it seems he has been for years condi-
tionally engaged to her."
"Impossible!" cried Hilda: "quite impossible I"
ANOTHB KOisY EYS. S21
'It IS oert4iiiil7 not creditable to eithdr,^ eontiiiaed
Doris ; ^ but I believe Mina spoke truth when she told
me he had promised she should be his wife if any chance
ever released him from his engagement to you/'
^' Oh, Doris, this is quite dreadM I I did not imagine
that any one could be so deliberately wicked 1 Do yoa
know that, during the whole time of my engagement to .
Sigmund, Mina endeavored to prejudice me against him
^that she contrived to make me jealous of you? ^that^
with motives which I now understand, she encouraged
my admiration for Frank, and on innumerable occasions
made arrangements and remarks tending to promote
disunion among us all, but so acting and speaking that
she was the very last person likely to be implicated
should quarrels ensue? I can even recollect that she
was the proposer and encourager of that fatal ride to
Porsteck "
*' We must be just,'' said Doris, ' and remember that
Mina could not possibly have foreseen such conse*
quences."
' She foresaw a violent dispute with Sigmund, at all
events," replied Hilda; ''and that was sufficient, as I
had previously given him cause enough for jealousy,
and tried his patience so often, at her instigation, that
a few angry words might even then separate us. AU
her plans have succeeded, and she now only informs you
of this engagement to prevent you from accepting Sig-
mund, whose wishes and intentions we all know, though
they seem to have escaped your observation."
'' Not exactly," said Doris ; '' but I have tried to avoid
BO disagreeable an explanation."
" You mean to reject him ?"
"Undoubtedly."
'' At all events," said Hilda, with heightened color,
19*
tSS AT OSM.
tlMt 10 an earner task than to bear rejection, of which
I have bad such bitter experience/'
At this moment they paased behind an edifice con-
stmoted of large rough Btones, decorated ineide with
sheik, and denominated ^' The Grotto," and heard Sig-
mnnd, in a loud and impatient voice, exclaim,
'* There is no nee in talking any more about it, Mina;
all stratagems are fair in love or war^ you know, and
I may as well end the discussion by confessing that I
never for a moment entertained a serious thought of
fblfiUing so absurd and imprudent a promise. Let me
again advise you to accept the proposal of the Forester
of Waldering, or, indeed, any one your parents may
recommend "
Doris and Hilda walked quickly on.
I)o you think she is really and deeply attached to
him?'' asked Hilda; for," she added, with a sigh, Mn
that case I could feel for her, and think her conduct
more xardonable. One is so selfish so very selfish
when under the influence of such feelings."
^' I cannot imagine any one loving Sigmund for him-
self," answered Doris.
' K ambition influenced her," said Hilda, '^ she is justly
punished, and we need not waste any commiseration on
her."
A few days later the Director sent to invite Doris,
Hilda, and their mother to dine with him in his apart*
ments, and while they were sending a message of accept-
ance Sigmund and Emmeran entered the room and
laughingly informed them that, as it was their father's
birthday, they might prepare speeches and expect cham-
pagne 1
" And I only thought of Holy Eve," said Doris.
^Is it indeed Holy Eve?" cried Emmeran: "then I
ANOTHSR HOLT SVS. 228
BbaU certainly bum nnts^ as I did two yeara ago : do
you remember ?"
"Yes," auswered Doris, laughing; "but I believe you
were rather unfortunate, for the nut representing your
lady-love always bopped off."
" While I," said Emmeran, " or rather my nut-repre-
sentative^ burned and glowed to a cinder, and will do so
Btilir
" For the same mysterious personage V asked Boris.
"The same, ^then, now, and forever I"
'* And you will not tell us her name V
"No; but I should now like to look into your magio
glass at midnight, if you will go again to the island."
"Not for any consideration," she answered, gravely;
" for, though I do not at all believe that Hilda saw an
apparition in the vaults, it is certainly remarkable not
only that chance obliged her to give Frank the ring we
found there, but also that he is now in the regiment in
which her father served in his youth, and wears the very
hussar uniform that she asserted she saw on the shadow
in the glass I"
" That is very curious," said Emmeran : " I must ask
Hilda more about it."
And he walked into the next room, while Doris, look-
ing out of the window, fixed her eyes on the island and
seemed to forget that Sigmund was beside her, until he
asked " if she had ever looked in a magic glass."
" I have played all these Holy-Eve tricks, as they are
called, in Ireland," she answered; " but either I am not
superstitious or not imaginative, ^I never saw or heard
any thing. Even lead when I melted it, and eggs when
I broke them into glasses of water, failed to take a form
that would admit of a surmise : it always seemed as if
the fitiries were resolved to strengthen me in my reso-
lution to remain unmarried, and, a young lady learned
8M AX ovm.
in Buoh matters having iofbrmed me that the best seoviiy
of all against marriage was to read the form of solem-
Bization as it is printed in our prayer-book, beginning at
the words ' Dearly beloved/ and ending with ^ amaee-
ment/ not missing a syllable or looking up, and com-
mencing exactly as the clock struck twelve on Holy Eve,
I did so, and she gave me the satis&ctory assurance that
the ceremony would never be performed for me. I thought
of this and of Frank just now, and find that events have
confirmed her words in a manner that, to say the least,
is very singular."
^^ Singular it would indeed be, if you remained much I
longer unmarried,'' said Sigmund ; ' and I feel bound as |
loyal knight to assist in breaking the spell cast on yoa I
by this midnight sorcery. An English clergyman might I
easily be found, Doris, to read this service for you, ^and I
me '* He paused, and then added, ' May I hope it '
wiUbeso?" '
"No."
"And why?"
"I do not like you well enough."
" Have you any other reason ?"
" Perhaps I have ; but that is suflBlcient."
" It is not !" he cried, catching her hand to detain her.
You must tell me if Mina Fallersberg has been speaking
to you."
" You spoke very loudly to her in the garden yester-
day," answered Doris, " and when I passed the grotto
with Hilda I heard you say you had never entertained
a thought of fulfilling your absurd and imprudent pro-
mise to her."
'And what was that promise?" he asked, quickly;
' or, rather, how could you have understood what I meant
if she had not previously explained ?"
Doris attempted no answer.
ANOTHER HOLT EYE. 225
"Then it is as I suspected/' he said, vainly endeavor-
ing to conceal his agitation; ''and now yon mnst hear
my explanation/'
' I should rather not/' said Doris ; ^* you cannot deny
having made the promise."
"I made it conditionally when there was not the
slightest chance of what has since occurred taking
place, and long hefore I ever saw you. Listen to me,
Doris : Mina's intrigues to disengage me from Hilda
have been diabolical. I saw through but permitted them,
because I wished to have you free and to be at liberty
myself."
"Then you were her accomplice," said Doris; "and
now, having confessed that you indirectly assisted in
separating me from Frank, how can you expect me to
give you his place in my regard ?"
^ Si8 place I" exclaimed Sigmund ; " I do not want it^
I do not wish for it I Your regard for him was mere
habit, like mine for Hilda, a brotherly, cousinly, affec-
tionate, most laudable sort of regard ; but I will venture
to aver that as yet you have not an idea of love as I
understand it."
* Perhaps not," she answered. " You loved Mina well
enough to give her what you call a conditional promise
of marriage ; on Hilda you bestowed a habitual affection
that served as foundation for a solemn betrothal; and
for me you profeds a regard that stimulated you to aid
in destroying my best chance of domestic happiness in
this world! Let us not quarrel, Sigmund : I hope before
long to be able to forgive both you and Mina as tho-
roughly as Hilda does; but more than that I cannot
promise."
Just then the others entered the room, and it was
agreed that at this birthday-dinner they would all appear
in full dress; even Emmeran was enjoined to put on his
226 AT ODDB.
uniform^ and desired to request Madame Pallersberg to
wear her new cap with the scarlet top-knot.
' She has sent us one of her famous chocolate tarts/^
he said, laughing, and on it there are a couple of
clumsy sugar hearts as decoration. I puzzled long be-
fore I discovered that they might perhaps be intended
to represent her and her husband's hearts as * Friend-
ship's ofltering' to our Director. My father was wonder-
fully pleased at the discovery, and walked up and down
the room rubbing his hands and laughing heartily/'
When they assembled at dinner-time, Sigmund forced
himself to appear as cheerful as the rest of the party,
and made his father the longest and most elaborate of
congratulations on the completion of his threescore of
years.
The dinner lasted long, and a good deal of champagne
had been consumed before the Director found himself
sufficiently exhilarated to make an oration that had evi-
dently been prepared, and which some of those present,
as was afterwards ascertained, were awaiting in nervous
anxiety. He commenced by handing Sigmund a written
document, containing a formal resignation of Westenried
and all its appurtenances to him ; then declared his in-
tention of bestowing personally on Emmeran the sum
of money that he was hereafter to have received as
inheritance; and, while his two sons still gazed at him
in speechless astbnishment, he added that, '' having pro-
vided for them, he felt at liberty to take a step that would
materially conduce to the happiness of the rest of his
life : he had found an amiable and accomplished com-
panion " Here he rose, and, approaching Mina,
took her hand, bowed over it, and then presented her
to his family as his future wife.
The reader may imagine the effect of these words on
all present. Even the Pallersbergs, though not surprised,
ANOTHSB HOLT EYE. 227
Beemed fully to share the uniyersal embarraBBment, mixed
with much anxiety. Mina changed color rapidly, and
glanced furtively towards Sigmund, on whom, in fact,
all eyes were fixed, and he seemed to think it incumbent
on him to answer, for, with features working convul-
sively and after several vain attempts to articulate, he
at length stammered, '^ Has this ^this very unexpected
^arrangement ^been made to-day V
"Oh, nol" answered his father, cheerfully: "that
document in your hand will prove that the resolution
has been long formed."
"And her consent?'' asked Sigmund, with a forced
smile.
" Was given, I may say willingly given, before we
left Munich."
Sigmund started from his seat and strode towards
Mina. " Your consent was willingly given ?" he said, in
a voice of suppressed rage.
Mina did not answer; she turned her head away, and
clung to the Director's arm.
"Have you," continued Sigmund, sternly, ^**have you
for once in your life told the truth, ^the whole truth ?
And does my father know that even yesterday you ^" .
Mina's agitation became so great that the Director
turned angrily towards his son, and asked what be
meant by openly insulting a person who would soon be
a member of their family.
"K," said Sigmund, with a sneer, "if you are not
completely blinded by your passion for this young lady,
I think a few minutes' conversation with me will make
the future relationship very problematical."
"Do not believe what he says," cried Mina, bursting
into tears. " He does not wish you to marry again, and .
intends to traduce me !"
" Sigmund," said the Director, earnestly and quietly,
228 AT ODD8.
" I did not at all anticipate this violent opposition to
my marriage on your part, and must remind you that
yon have less right than any one to interfere on this
occasion. I have put you in complete possession of
yoar ancle's property, and only reserved my own small
fortune, my profession, and subsequent pension for
myself. In no way, therefore, can my marriage concern
you; and I not only decline any advice you may intend
to offeri but insist on your making an apology to Mina
for the very improper expressions you have just used
concerning her."
'^I will not apologize/' said Sigmund, haughtily, ^'or
ever see or speak to her, should she succeed in per-
suading you to make her your wife I"
^' Be it so, Sigmund : you are, fortunately, not neces-
sary to our happiness,'' answered the Director, seating
himself again at the table.
An angry retort hovered on Sigmund's lips; but, per-
fectly aware that by self-possession alone he could make
an impression on his father, he bent down towards him,
and, with the assurance that he had not meant to offend
him, formally requested an hour's conversation the next
morning, and hoped to be excused if he absented him-
self for the remainder of the evening.
^' More than excused," replied the Director, without
looking round. ^^I am well aware that sons seldom
approve of their fathers' marrying again, but, if ever a
man had a right to do so, I may say I have !"
Sigmund left the room, and great efforts were made
by all to restore the previous cheerfulness, but in vain :
every one was more or less embarrassed, and the party
broke up in consequence at an early hour, the Director
assuring Mina and her parents, as he accompanied them
down the stairs, that they should never again be sub*
jected to such rudeness, and that Sigmund's conduct
ANOTHER nOLT EYX. 229
would only serve to hasten the marriage he had opposed
with such unexpected violence.
When Mina soon after entered her own room, she
found on the table a carefully-sealed note, containing
but the one line :
' Meet me at the willow-tree, in the orchard, at mid-
night."
And, with eyes riveted on the order she dared not
disobey, she sat deliberating anxiously until the short
day drew to a close, and the words of the dreaded ap-
pointment became illegible.
She heard her father's step on the drawbridge, and
looked after him as he walked towards the inn where he
usually spent a couple of hours every evening, and then
she joined her mother, and listened to her indignant
remarks about Sigmund, and praises of the Director,
while they both worked at the trousseau that had been
in secret progress for many weeks, Madame Pallersberg
being herself so loquacious that her daughter's silence
was quite unobserved. At length they separated for
the night, and soon after Mr. Pallersberg returned home.
Mina heard him carefully lock the castle-gate, ascend
the stairs, and enter his room, the door of which she
passed two hours later on tiptoe, a shawl drawn tightly
over her shivering figure, and her head covered with a
black lace scarf. '
The night was dark, notwithstanding the myriads of
stars in the cloudless sky ; but, when her eyes had be-
come accustomed to the obscurity, she easily found her
way across the court and into the garden and orchard.
The willow-tree was not far from the boat-house, close
to the lake, and with boughs extending far over the
surface of the water, into which the pendent branches
dipped unceasingly, just then with some violence, as
they were blown to and fro by the autumn wind. The
20
889 AT ODD8.
lake WM dttk and niiBed, and the outline of Sigmund's
figure indiBtinot, even when Mina stood abnost close
beside him.
^Sigmondy be merciful/' she said, in a low voice of
entreaty, and do not deprive me of my last chanoe of
of "
0f becoming Countess Waldering/' he said, inter-
rupting her^ ^^ fitther or son, it is all the same to yon!
But no; I had almost forgotten : you preferred me yes-
terday, perhaps to-day, or even now T'
**0h, Sigmundl if you had ever loved me, or any
one, you could not be so cruel T
^ It is precisely because I love that I have resolved to
punish you for interfering with my best chance of hap-
piness. You told Doris of my promise to you. In return
I shall tell my father what you have said and written
to me. He shall know all all ^to-morrow, and I leave
you to judge if he will afterwards think it necessary to
fulfill any promises he may have made you I"
' Spare me, Sigmund I Spare me I I see that with-
out your consent I cannot become your father's wife,
but for Heaven's sake give me back my letters. I be-
lieved you implicitly when you assured me you had
destroyed them, and even now cannot think it possible
that you will use such means to betray me I Be satis-
fied with having deprived me of an establishment sach
as will never again be offered me."
^'Then you resign all claims on my fiither?"
" I cannot help myself."
'But in these same letters," continued Sigmund, ''jou
have mentioned my grandmother in a manner that will
cause you to forfeit her friendship and protection in
future."
Sigmund, what I wrote was but a continuation of
my conversations with you."
ANOTHZR HOLT EYI. 281
"My words, fortunately, are not written/* he ob*
served, cynically.
"Must I then return to my parents?" she asked.
"Do you condemn me to live over the gateway of the
castle for the rest of my life V
"By no means," he answered. "I consider yon so
dangerons that I shonld make it a point with your
father that yon were never to enter his apartments
here."
"Are you in earnest, Sigmnnd?"
" More BO than I ever was in my life when speaking
to yon," he answered.
"And what is to become of me? Do you know that
you are making me homeless ?"
"You have made me the same," he cried, fiercely.
"By your means Westenried has become odious to me
on the very day it was put in my possession. Tour
infernal machinations first separated me from Hilda
and then made Doris dislike me. I have now my
revenge, and I enjoy it."
" You will drive me to despair I" she said, in a low,
wailing voice. " I wish I were dead, and in my grave!
Have mercy!" she added, clinging to him, though he
tried to push her from him; " have mercy, as you hope
for mercy; for, if you do not relent, you will force me
to end my life in the lake !"
"The old story!" he answered, laughing ironically.
" How often have you threatened to take this plunge,
and haunt me for the rest of my life ? I do hope, how-
ever, you have no fancy of the kind just now, as I should
be under the necessity of saving you from drowning,
and the water must be confoundedly cold on such a
night as this I"
The taunt gave Mina courage; she flung her shawl
282 AT 0DD8.
ftom Ler shoolders, and, with a loud, wild cry, sprang
into the lake.
The moment Sigmnnd recovered from bis astonish-
ment he followed her; but the night was so dark that
he conld not see her when she rose to the surface, and
it was in vain that he afterwards swam abont, panting
her name and grasping every thing he found floating on
the water.
It was long ^very long ^before he could believe that
the unfortunate girl he once loved, and latterly so in-
tensely hated, had actually been driven by him to com-
mit suicide. As he again stood under the willow-tree,
breathless, and with clothes from which the water
poured in streams, he for a moment ^for one horrible
moment felt himself a murderer ; the next, ^such is
the perversity of the human heart, ^he found excuses
for himself, and soon after the blame rested chiefly on
his victim. By what mode of reasoning he came to this
conclusion is of no importance to us; it was probably
not very satisfactory, as he stamped repeatedly on the
ground, and ended by muttering that " he was not the
first man who had broken a promise of marriage, nor
was he likely to be the last. He had not believed her
threat of drowning herself; and if the night had not
been so dark, and the lake like a pool of ink, he could
easily have saved her life. He had done his best^ at all
events, and there was no use in standing there any
longer."
And then he turned away, fully resolved never to
betray his share in this catastrophe.
Nor did he; bat enough blame rested on him to cause
a conflict with his father on the ensuing day that served
effectually to estrange them forever.
THBBS TXABS LATBB.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THREE TEARS LATER.
After the events related in the foregoing pages,
Westenried became a disagreeable residence to all the
Waldering family. The Director and his mother re-
turned to Munich, Sigmund went to Paris, and Emme-
ran, when obliged to join his regiment, then quartered
at Innsbruck, easily persuaded his aunt and cousins to
accompany him there.
The peace of Presburg had given Tyrol to Bavaria,
and in its beautifully situated capital on the Inn not
only Bavarian troops were stationed, but many Bava-
rian iimilies had established themselves. Doris's
mother, though possessed of some houses in what was
then a suburb, but is now a part, of the town of Inns-
brack, was unwilling to inconvenience tenants who had
occupied them for many years, and therefore took a
Boite of apartments in a more central -and what was
then considered a more desirable situation, which she
furnished in the newest and most ponderous Egyptian
style. Sphinxes, with profoundly serene faces, formed
the sides of sofas, eagles' heads and necks the arms of
chairs, gilt mummies supported marble consoles, ser-
pents wound themselves through the intricate draperies
of curtains, and alligators and pyramids strongly predo-
minated in the ornaments strewed about the rooms.
This description of furniture was at that time consi-
dered pure English from being an inspiration of the
Prince Eegent, and for some years successfhlly rivaled
20*
234 AT ODDS.
the meager fashion of chain and tables commonly
called " Style de V Empire."
In these apartments Tyroleans and Bavarians met as
on neutral ground, and all allusion to the war raging
in other parts of Europe was avoided if in any way cal-
culated to lead to unpleasant political discussions. Bat
the misfortunes of Prussia, the millions exacted by I^a-
poleon after the battle of Jena, and the unreasonable
contributions levied in Hamburg and Lubeck, were
spoken of freely enough, as well as the losses of the
Russians and the fri^^htful sacrifice of human life caused
by the insatiable French conqueror.
When Napoleon prohibited any kind of commerce
and communication with Great Britain, and even de-
creed that every British subject found in the countries
occupied by his troops or those of his allies should be
made prisoners of war, Doris took counsel of her nume-
rous Bavarian and Tyrolean friends, and received ^m
them the most satisfactory assurances of protection,
coupled, however, with the advice to change her name
for a German one as soon as possible, in order to be
prepared for all emergencies.
There was much laughing and jesting on this subject,
i^nmixed with any apprehension of approaching danger.
If people surmised or suspected that the defeat of the
French in Spain and Portugal might encourage Austria
to make another effort to relieve herself and Europe
firom the tyranny of France, it was generally supposed
that Tyrol was not likely to become the seat of war, as
even for the passage of troops the country was singu-
larly ill adapted, and military men declared that it
would be difficult to find a plain of sufficient dimensions
in any of the valleys to serve either as a field of battle
or for the encampment of a regular army.
Under these circumstances, it was by no means sur-
THREE YEARS LATER. 235
prising that the officers of the Bavarian regiments at
that time in Innsbrack should endeavor to make the
time pass as pleasantly as possible^ and that the Car-
nival of the year 1809 was as gay as can well be
imagined in a provincial town.
Private masquerades were of frequent recurrence,
for the Bavarians were, and are to this day, partial to
such entertainments; and the Walderings and some
others gave general invitations to their acquaintances
to assemble on stated evenings in their apartments,
adding a request that the guests would appear masked,
costumed, or in domino.
These assemblies amused Doris and Hilda extremely,
and guesses concerning the identity of the masks pro-
moted conversation long after such guests had left
them.
" I wish," said Hilda, one night when Emmeran was
taking leave in his usual reluctant manner, although
he had passed tKc whole evening with them, ^^ I wish
you could find out who wore the Boman coeitume this
evening, and looked so picturesque and dignified; his
silence and evident wish to avoid you make me suppose
him one of the officers of your regiment."
" That is not very likely," answered Emmeran ; '' as
there was certainly nothing in his appearance at all
&miliar to me."
**Of course not, in such a dress, and with a half-mask
and false beard; but," she continued, suppose the same
figure in your uniform, and try to recollect if any one
of your officers has a head shaped like his, or such
hands and feet."
*' There are a good many of his height among us,"
said Emmeran, thoughtfully; '^but not any of them
could stand as he did. I could almost suspect him to
be "
AT OBM.
Whatr
'^ An actor, a tragedian, or fiomething of that sort"
'' So/' exclaimed Hilda, '' a man must be an actor if
he can stand and walk gracefhlly in a toga V*
"Well/' be replied, " I sboald say it required some
practice or study ; at least, I know I could not do W*
Hilda laughed. ' Oh, Emmeran, if you only would
try^* she said, eagerly; " do pray get a toga, and come
here on Thursday as a Boman. Doris and I will put
you into all the attitudes."
'^ And at the same time laugh at my awkwardness ?^'
he rejoined.
'^ If you choose to make us laugh, you can do so,
undoubtedly," she said ; " but I do not see why you
cannot manage a toga, and lean your elbow on the
stove, just as well as any one else."
''If Doris and my aunt also think it would be
amusing to see me in such a dress," he observed, "I
can go to the people who hire out masks, and perhaps
get the very same costume you saw this evening."
Doris said she did not think there was any thing
particularly entertaining in a Koman mask; she was
sure the person wh7 wore it that evening had only
wished to show his figure to advantage.
''And perhaps," said Emmeran, "you also think that,
as I have not at all a graceful figure, I had better avoid
the tunic and toga ?"
''Not if you like to wear them, Emmeran. I dara
say there were more Eomans with figures like yours
than such as we saw to-night : had we been in a circus,
I should have expected to see him throw aside his well-
draped toga and spring on the back of the first gallop*
ing horse within his reach."
"Well, Hilda, what do you say to that?" asked Em-
meran.
THREE TEARS LATER. 237
. "Nothing. I only hope you will appear here on
Thursday evening as representative of what the Komans
really were, or/' she added, with an arch smile, " or
whAt Doris supposes them to have heen V
" The color of my hair would be more appropriate
for a Goth," said Emmeran, smiling ; ^and this fellow's
black head was a perfect * Titus/"
" Perhaps it was a wig," suggested Doris.
" Then," said Hilda, amused, *^you had better get one
like it, with beard to match."
" Why not ?" said Doris : " the Eomans painted and
dyed their hair, and I believe in later times wore wigs
also.'*
" Very true," said Emmeran ; " and, as light^colored
hair was admired at Bome, I might wear my own if I
can procure a beard of the same color. At all events,
while inquiring about the toga, I can try to find out
who wore it this evening."
'*Pray do," said Hilda, *'and then we shall see who
made the best guess. I suppose him an officer; you
think him a tragedian. Doris says he resembles, or
might be, a circus-rider ; and mamma, dear, what did
he appear to you ?"
"A coxcomb I" answered her mother; and, while
Hilda laughed and Doris smiled, Emmeran buckled on
his sword and slowly left the room.
During the course of the next two days the silent
Eoman mask became the subject of conversation in
many families, and induced an unusual number of peo-
ple, both masked and unmasked, to appear at the Wal-
derings' on the following Thursday. Great was the
satisfaction of the assembled company to find the toga-ed
figure standing, carefully draped, on the spot described;
while Hilda and Doris were not a little amused to sec
many walk up and stare and discuss the posture and
238 AT ODOfi.
dress, as if Emmeraii had been placed there for exhibi-
tion.
"So/' observed an old lady, adjusting her spectacles
and gazing upwards, "so this is the Emperor Titus f'
The figure shook its head slowly.
" Therese, did you not tell me it was Titus ?"
"No, grandmamma; I said that a head with short
curled hair is the newest fkshion, and is called a 'Titus."'
"Then what was that story your brother told us
of the emperor who so often said that he had lost a
day?"
"My friends," said Emmeran, solemnly, "I have. lost
many a day."
" I thought this mask wouldn't speak," cried a young
man, advancing ; ' make him talk, and we shall soon
discover who he is I"
" The voice is feigned," said one.
" The hair is false," said another.
'^ "No, the hair is his own, and only the nose and fore*
head are masked," observed a third.
At this moment a pilgrim, with a long white beard,
advanced slowly into the middle of the room, affecting
great age, and leaning heavily on his staff; but the
moment his eyes fell on Emmeran he stood upright,
strode a few steps forward, and then, as if suddenly
remembering his assumed character, bent down his
head and tottered on to the nearest chair.
Doris, Hilda, and their mother had been expecting
the arrival of this mask, as, though Emmeran had not
been able to ascertain the name of the person who had
worn the toga on the former evening, he had heard
that a pilgrim's dress had been ordered for a future
occasion, and there was every probability of his ap-
pearing in it at their house.
And now this pilgrim sat, leaning on his staff, sliglttly
THSSS TJU&S LATMIL 239
bent forward, his eyes peering eagerly through the
mask, but, as Doris soon discovered, almost exclusively
watching her and her family. Who could he bef
There was only one person who might wish to enter
their house masked, in order to see them without the
necessity of making himself known ; and, as the thought
of Frank flashed through her mind, she recalled the
figure not only of the Boman mask, but also of an
Armenian ^a blue domino and a Greek, who had ail
more or less excited their curiosity, in different places,
during the last week or two, and deliberated whether
or not he were likely to recommence his intercourse
with them in this eccentric manner.
Meantime Emmeran grew heartily tired of the dig-
nified posture in which he had been placed by his
cousins, and, perceiving they had ceased to watch him,
he flung his toga, in a more military than graceful
manner, over his shoulder, and sauntered into the ad*
joining room, where he found Doris surrounded by a
number of clamorous guests entreating her to play
some Irish airs on the harp.
Ask my sister,'^ was her answer; ' Hilda plays
them quite as well as I do, and far more willingly/'
^*1 suppose," said Emmeran, as the others returned
to the larger room in search of Hilda, ^' I suppose these
national melodies remind you too forcibly of Ireland
and ^Prank."
They make me melancholy, for some reason or
other,'' she answered, though I really do not think
that Frank has much to do with it. His quarrel, by
letter, with my mother, was most unfortunate, as it
has completely estranged him, and so long prevented
his making any effort to be reconciled to Hilda; never
theless, when you told us that this pilgrim mask was
supposed to be a stranger, and mentioned his extreme
240 AT ODIW.
anxiety to oonoeal his name, I oould not help thinking
of Frank, who alone might venture to come here unin-
vited and unpreeented; and the very possibility of his
being in that pilgrim's dress would have made playing
the harp just now a very painful effort to me."
" I am sorry to hear it," said Emmeran, " for I hoped
you could meet him with perfect equanimity."
" you mistake me," said Doris, slightly coloring : " it
is only the mystery that disconcerts me; for if the
pilgrim were to walk in here, take off his beard, and
really prove to be Frank, I think ^indeed, I am sure
I oould play as long as he or any one chose to listen.
How fortunate that Hilda has no suspicion I" she added,
as a light hand passed over the strings of the harp,
and lingered on some of the upper ones that required
tuning.
She was right. Hilda had no suspicion. She thought
it so natural that a mask should make a mystery of
his name, at least until the Carnival was over, that she
did not even recollect the pilgrim's presence, still less
perceive his movement, as the request was made to
her, or his start as she prepared to comply with it.
But Doris and Emmeran were more observant; they
knew how great Frank's surprise would be to find that
Hilda had acquired an accomplishment which not only
his love of music but also national feelings made him
value highly. They knew also her secret intention of
surprising him when an opportunity should offer, and
now she was about to do so with an unconsciousness
of his presence that was most advantageous to her;
for even Hilda's courage might have failed had she been
aware, or even thought it possible, that the pilgrim who
now stood masked before her was Frank !
Never, however, did she play with more self-posses-
sion and feeling, never more willingly, than just then ;
TflBBB TEABS LATER. 241
and the long-robed pilgrim, forgetful of his staff and
venerable beard, stood gazing at the charming per-
former with folded arms and head erect, a foot, on
which a spnr conld easily be imagined, unconBciously
marking the time, while an occasional movement of the
head and figure proved the irresistible impression made
on him by the music.
When Hilda ceased, stood up, and pushed the harp
aside, he drew back, joined a group of dominos near
the door, and with them soon after left the room.
In order to preserve his incognito, Emmeran thought
it necessary that evening to retire with the other
guests, so that Hilda, Doris, and their mother were
alone when about to separate for the night.
"After all,'' observed Hiida, ' Emmeran looked better
than I expected : he is neither an Apollo nor a Her-
cules; but I dare say Doris was right in supposing
that more Eomans may have resembled him than the
man who was here on Monday. What a difference
dress makes I I should never have noticed the pilgrim
of to-night had not Emmeran told us he was the Bo-
man mask of Monday."
"I suspect he is more than that," said Doris. '^Do
you remember the Armenian, the blue domino, and the
Greek who was at Madame d'Epplen's, and seemed to
watch and follow us wherever we went ?"
"Perfectly," said Hilda; "and, on consideration, the
Greek and Boman have a strong resemblance in hair
and figure. As he was so often at the Epplens', per-
haps he is some Bavarian who has brought her a letter
from her husband ; he may even be an officer in Colonel
d'Epplen's regiment, and she can in that case tell us
all about him."
"Let us defer the discussion of this not very im-
portant subject until to-morrow" interposed their
242 AT OOM.
mother, with diflcnlty Boppreasing a yawn; ^ I oonfiaai
I am miore sleepy than inqnisitiYe just now/'^
"Suppose, however, dear mother," eaid Doris, "that
I had some reason for thinking it possible that the
Armenian, the Greek, the Boman, and to-night's pilgrim
were one person, and that person ^Frank?"
Her mother stopped, turned round, and repented the
word, Prank r
Hilda leaned on the chair nearest her, and listened
attentively to all her sister's reasons for the supposition.
" You may be right or not, Doris," she said, in a low
voice; " I only know that I am thankful you did not tell
me your suspicions while he was here."
"This is worth investigating," said their mother,
" and if Frank really be here we can send Emmeran to
him, and "
"Ko, dear mother," cried Hilda, eagerly interrupting
her ; " I have long forgiven Frank all he said to me and
wrote to you, but I can never consent to the slightest
advance being again made to him."
^'Bemember, Hilda, the opportunities are few: this
is the first that has occurred since your marriage, thai
is, during the space of nearly four years."
" True," said Hilda, " I have been forgotten, or worse
than forgotten, all this time; but, were it twice as
long, I would not seek a reconciliation."
"Have you any objection," asked her mother, "to my
proposing a meeting and explanation with him ?"
" Kone whatever, as far as your personal quarrel is
concerned, but I do not wish my name to be mentioned."
" It will be impossible to avoid naming you, HildSi
for our quarrel, you know, was altogether about you,
and my wish for a reconciliation wholly on your account.''
" Then, mamma, I must entreat you earnestly to let
the matter rest. Believe me, if you make advances to
THRSS TSARS XATEK.
Fnuik, he will only accept them as &r m jou and Boris
are concerned, and you will subject me to an additional
mortification that when it is too late you will wish you
had sp|red me V
*^ What ought we to do ?" asked her mother, turning
to Doris, who stood musing near the candle she had just
lighted.
" Nothing," she answered, quietly. " Frank has come
to our house masked, and taken such precautions to re-
main unknown that I think we had better respect his
incognito and not even make inquiries about him."
'' Quite right," said Hilda. ^^If any one understands
Frank thoroughly, it is Doris;" and she walked towards
her room humming one of the Irish melodies she had
played on the harp an hour previously.
' Doris, I don't at all like your advice on this occa-
sion," observed her mother, as soon as they were alone.
''If we do not make some effort to bring Frank and
Hilda together, they may live on in this way for years."
" And if they meet they may quarrel," replied Doris.
"Not likely," said her mother, "for Hilda is even
more attractive than she was at Ulm, and Frank will
soon discover that a few years have given her too much
knowledge of the world to quarrel with him as she did
there."
" There are so many ways of quarreling," suggested
Doris.
" But," continued her mother, " I believe we may take
it for granted that she is as much attached to him as
ever?"
" Of that I have little doubt," answered Doris; "but
fiom some remarks she made about Frank I suspect she
has taken offense at the accounts which our injudicious
friends have given her of his gay life both at Vienna and
Prague. She looked so much more thoughtfhl than
244 AT ODDS.
{ileased when we were speaking of him just now that
I almost donbt her wishing either an exphination or
meeting just at present/'
' That/' observed heap mother, '^ may be in cons^qnence
of their having parted in anger; bat the embarrassment
whioh they both must feel can only be removed by the
good offices of friends and relations, and I shall there
fore send Emmeran to Frank to-morrow."
CHAPTBE XXV.
HOW THET MET.
^ I HOPS, Hilda/' said her mother, late on the afternoon
of the succeeding day, " 1 hope yon will be glad to hear
that Frank is coming to ns this evening V
" Certainly not, mamma, if you have requested the
pleasure of his company."
^ I sent Emmeran to him/' she answered, in explana-
tion, '^ and he found Frank as willing to come to ns as
we are to receive him. Doris's supposition that he was
the Armenian and the Greek mask we met at the
Epplens' was perfectly correct."
" And ^a ^in what character does he appear to-
night?"
' This is not our evening for receiving masks, Hilda,
and I do not intend to go to the Epplens'."
'' Nevertheless, I must repeat my question, mainma,
and again ask, in what character does Frank come to ns
this evening?"
" He comes as my nephew " began her mother.
" Of course/' said Hilda, " your nephew, and Doris's
HOW THBT MXT. 245
coumn^ and my eotisin too, beeanse he cmBuot help him*
aelf, hvtt ^but "
" Hilda,'' said her mother, '^ yoa most be satisfied for
the preeent with knowiiig that he is willing to forgive
and finrget, and he hopes we shall do the same."
^ Forgiving is easy, my dear mother, when there are
faults on both sides. As I ought not to have consented
to a marriage that I knew to be so much against his
inclinations, so he, having consented, should not after-
wards have treated me so unkindly. This, however, I
can forgive; but I cannot and will not forget his assur-
ance that he would make no pretension to authority,
and that our union was merely nominal. I shall there-
fore be glad to see my cousin Frank this evening, but
need not remain at home for the purpose. I dare say he
will still be here when I return from the Epplens'."
It was perhaps to prevent expostulation that Hilda
left the room, while her mother, turning to Doris, ex
claimed, in a tone of vexation, ^' I am sony to perceive
you were right : my interference has been injudicious,
and I now fear I shall bring them together only to give
them an opportunity of quarreling afresh. Perhaps we
had better send Emmeran again to Frank."
^ For what purpose ?" asked Doris ; '^ he cannot unsay
your message, or even tell him we do not wish to see
him."
** But, my dear girl, consider the consequences should
Frank come here fully expecting a joyful reception fhm
Hilda, and taking it for granted that she is willing to
agree to any plan for the future he may think proper
to proposer
* He can scarcely entertain such expectations," said
Doris, ' however great his hopes of ultimate reconcilia-
tion may be. I always, however, thought it would be
better to let him find out his errors and correct them
246 AT 6lIH.
himself. Your well-meant interference after we left
TJlm, dear mamma, only made matters worse ; and now
that he feels a little natnral curiosity, if not something
better, to know how we Mre living here, believe me,
instead of sending Emmeran to tell him that we had
found him ont in spite of all his disguises and should be
delighted to see him again, it would have been wiser to
have waited until he made himself known to as, and
asked if, after such prolonged neglect, we, or rather
Hilda, would consent to see him/'
'^ Tou may be right, Doris, but something must be
done, for Hilda is in a fttir way to forget him altogether."
"That I doubt," said Doris.
" She never speaks of him," continued her mother.
'^Keither should I under such circumstances," re-
plied Doris.
' And I fear," added her mother, " that she is even
beginning to like the attentions of others."
''There is. safety in the multitude of her admirers,"
rejoined Doris, '^ and if I know Frank at all, the admira-
tion of others will only serve to increase his. Have you
not said yourself that men not unfrequently value their
wives as Jews and Turks do their jewels, in exact pro-
portion to their worth in the eyes of the world ? and
some one else said he had known men who only cared
for their wives when they were well dressed! ' Ifow,
Hilda is much admired and always well dressed, ^Frank
has been sent for, ^they are to meet to-night with all
the advantages of increased experience : let us leave
them to judge and act for themselves in future."
* * * . * :(c 4e
Frank came, and, if unpleasantly surprised at Hilda's
absence, he betrayed it not. The information that she
was at the Epplens' seemed perfectly to satisfy him, and
be talked for a long time in the most unreserved manner
HOW THST MIT. 217
without even referring to her. Emmeran's presence
was a great restraint; he had come with Frank and
seated himself in his usual place, in perfect unconscious-
ness of being in the way, until he perceived his aant
retire to another part of the room, where, calling Frank
to her side, she began a low, eager conversation that
immediately attracted Doris's attention in a very re-
markable manner. "I believe I had better go away/'
he then whispered, with a glance towards the speakers;
but, as he rose, Frank looked at his watch, stood up
also, and was taking leave, with a promise to come the
next day, when the door opened, and Hilda, brilliant in
the light, white, gold-bordered drapery of a priestess of
the Sun, entered the room.'^ Her face was covered with
the silk mask that (representing the features of a youth-
ful Peruvian) had secured her freedom of speech daring
the evening, and without removing it she first extended
her hand to Frank, and then assured her mother and
sister that the soiree at the Epplens' had been unusually
gay. '^Almost every one was masked," she added;
'^ even little Babette had a costume a la Tyrolienney and
would not betray any of the people she knew, though
Colonel Dietfurt offered her immense bribes in the form
of French bonbons."
" So Dietfiirt was there ?" observed Frank.
*Ye8," she replied, sitting down and beginning to
untie her mask with apparent composure ; '* he is every-
where, and uncommonly popular."
' And," continued Frank, ' does he still proclaim his
intention of raising the Tyrolean conscripts and pacifi-
cating the country with only his own regiment and a
few squadrons of cavalry ?"
" We are beginning to hope," she answered, " that no
coercive measures will be necessary, ^that the inhabit-
ants of Tyrol will remember that they are now Bava-
2f8 AT ODM.
rimoB^ and tbat they oannot expect to be exempted ttam
the mih'tary conBcriptioii which has now beconie the
law of the whole land/'
'I am Burprieed/' said Frank, a little ironieally, '^to
hear yon speak at all of Tyrol; I thought, as a Bara-
rian, yon would tell me I was in the ' Inn circle/ "
'* Well, so yon are/' she answered, taking her mask
ftom her face, and looking at him with an arch smile ;
''and we hope you will like onr ' circle' so well that yea
may be indaced to remain in it for some time.''
Frank smiled, put down his hat, and leaned on the
back of the nearest chair.
'' I most now tell yon all aboat the masks," she con-
tinned, turning to the others. ''What excited most
interest was a group dressed as Tyrolean peasants; and
among them, Doris, there was a representative of that
pictnresque-looking man with the wonderfully long
black beard we saw so often in the streets lately. I
almost think it must have been the man himsel"
My dear Hilda," cried her mother, " how can you
imagine a peasant as guest in the drawing-room of
Madame d'Epplen !"
'' One seldom sees such interesting figures in a draw-
ing-room," replied Hilda, laughing; ''even the bearded
mask resembling him created quite a sensation."
"Perhaps," suggested Emmeran, glancing towards
Frank, " perhaps this man is sufficiently interesting to
make you wish me to procure the dress and appear in
it here to-morrow evening ?"
*Yott could not wear it, Emmeran/' she replied;
''for this man's shoulders are twice as broad as yours.
The costume is that of a peasant of the valley of Pas-
seyer, where he is innkeeper, freeholder, and horse-dealer.
His inn is called ' The Sands/ perhaps because the river
Passeyer made incursions and deposited sand on his
HOW THXT MIT. 249
land. They say it is rather an insignificant place ; but
I shall certainly visit him there when we go to Meran
next autumn, as we could easily ride or walk to * The
Sands' if w^ remained the night there.''
''This man's beard is procuring him celebrity/' ob
served Frank, unconsciously raising his hand to the long
mustache he had carefully cultivated since his change
of regiment. " Now," he added, " if I were at liberty
to let my beard grow, I should perhaps have a better
chance of becoming remarkable than in any other way :
it would soon cover half my face, and might induce
people to talk about me."
They do talk about you," said Hilda, coloring, " quite
as much as you could desire. Old General Kinkel and
everybody know who you are, and what you are, and
why you came here."
'^^1 that was in my passport," said Frank, with a
smile that seeiiied inclined to turn into a laugh; besides
which, I was subjected to the cross-questioning of the
military authorities here, who elicited more than I
wished or intended to tell, if I could have helped myself"
" Was it necessary to be so very explicit ?" asked Hilda.
I should have been sent back to Vienna if I had
not," he answered. '^ Tou see, Hilda, your friend Na*
poleon is still my enemy; he is displeased with some
of the military movements in Austria, fears another
effort for freedom, and General Kinkel has received,
private information that aU Austrian officers now coming
to Tyrol are emissaries of the Archduke John I My
loquaciousness alone procured me permission to remain
in Innsbruck; but I am well watched, and have the
certainty that all my letters will be opened and carefully
inspected."
^ The Bavarians never open letters," cried Hilda; ''do
tbey, Emmeran f"
2S0 AT 0]98.
''I hT6 nothing to do with lettera,^ he answered;
'bat, SB AuBtria is certainly preparing fbr war, and
emissaries from the Arohdnke have nndonbtedly been
here, the less Frank writes about military matters, or
the state of pablic feeling in Tyrol, the better. But
now tell ns something more abont this landlord of 'The
Sands/ whose name I know is Andrew Hofer/'
" So yon have heard of him, too 7"
'' Of course; he is a great man in his valley, was one
of the deputies sent to the Archduke John after the
peace of Presburg, and is supposed, like all the Tyrolean
innkeepers, to be an incorrigible Austrian/'
''That is,'' said Doris, he is a patriot in the best
sense of the word/'
" It is natural that you should think so," said Emme-
ran ; " but it is pretty generally understood that the inn-
keepers are dissatisfied about the duty on wine; it is
also well known that at the target-shooting matches
last summer all sorts of opposition to our government
was planned, and that these landlords have not only
concealed, but aided the flight of, our conscripts on
several occasions/'
" They were quite right," said Boris : " why should
they assist in delivering up their countrymen to be
formed into regiments for Napoleon's use t Have you
not told me yourself that he has required thirty thou-
sand men from Bavaria, and not left you enough to
defend Tyrol for a week in case of a warf"
'' Yes, Doris, I said so; but you need not have repeated
it before Frank/'
" No, indeed," said Frank, laughing ; " for I am as well
aware of it as you or any officer of the garrison of Inns-
bruck. Come, Emmeran, we need not play at enemies
here; I can assure you that any information yon could
give me I knew before I entered your ' oirde,' such as
HOW THXT MST. 251
the niimber of men here, at Halle, and elsewhere ; that
some of the burghers of lonsbrack are not nnfavorable
to Bavaria, bat that the peasants are supposed to be
loyal that is, Austrian ^with heart and soul. I should
be glad to find out that they would give their bodies
also in case of a war; and this hiding and flight of the
conscripts looks rather like it/'
" I don't know that," said Emmeran : " the Tyroleans
will take up arms to defend their country if necessary ;
but they hate the uniform and discipline of a regiment,
and 'you know it has hitherto been one of their priTi-
leges never to be employed out of their own land."
That was the Austrian law," said Frank, "and they
seem not to have forgotten it. Now, if that fellow with
the beard were here, I dare say he could tell us all about
it.''
" No doubt of that," said Emmeran ; *^ we don't quite
like his mysterious journeys in all directions, on pre-
tense of buying and selling horses; people even say
he has been in Yienna lately: perhaps you saw him
there?"
And if I did," said Frank, smiling, "you don't sup-
pose, after what you have just said, that I should tell
you so ?"
I wish I knew him," interposed Doris, '^for I should
like to advise him to shave off his beard ; it will be sure,
in times like these, to bring him into trouble by making
him a marked man."
He would not shave off that beard for you nor for
any one," said Hilda: Hhey say that a wager with
some Mends was the cause of his allowing it to grow.
It happened that one evening a beggar, with a similar
beard, came up to them, when they were sitting drink-
ing wine together before the house on the Sands; and,
as Andrew Hofer had not been long married, these
252 AT 0]]B.
fHenda asked him what his wife would say if he took
it ioto his head to let his beard grow to such a length.
He replied that she had no right to prevent him, and
that he could let his beard grow in any way he chose.
They laughed, jested, and finally betted a yoke of *oxeQ
that he dared not remain a year without shaving; he
gained the wager, and has preserved his beard ever
since."
He is right," said Frank; "it saves time, a vast deal
of trouble, and soap; and I can only say that, if his
patriotism equal his beard, I shall be happy to make
his acquaintance. And now," he added, turning to his
aunt, " I believe that I ought to say good-night ; but I
shall accept your invitation to take up my quarters in
your house to-morrow, for you have fully convinced me
that it is absolutely necessary to do so, if only for ap-
pearance' sake and to prevent people from talking about
what does not concern them. Good-night."
" Halt, Frank ! we can go together," cried Emmeran.
But Frank had no inclination to wait until Emmeran
had buckled on his sword and made arrangements for
a walk to Wilton on the following day. Before a con-
venient hour for the IJEitter had been decided upon, Frank
had descended the staircase, and was already in the
street, making long strides towards his hotel.
As he passed the sentinel posted at General HinkeFs
house, he perceived the man leaning on his musket and
looking after a couple of peasants who were walking
with a Capuchin monk at the other side of the street,
and conversing in the low, undemonstrative manner
peculiar to the Tyroleans. The sentinel followed the
three receding figures with a vacant stare, little sup-
posing that they were men of whom he would soon
hoar much and often, ^men whose names would become
of note in the history of their country, and over whose
HOW THEY MET. tS8
graves monnments would be erected^ before which not
only Tyroleans, but even foreigners^ would stand and
speak of them and their deeds with enthusiasm. Frank
could not know this, either, just then, but he reoogniaed
in the broad-shouldered peasant Andrew Hofer, the inn-
keeper of the Sands, and, while looking at him, scarcely
observed the muscular figure and intelligent face of
Joseph Speckbacher, or the red-bearded monk Joachim
Haspinger, whose brilliant eloquence and personal
courage made his subsequent fame little inferior to that
of his companions.*
Frank walked quickly on, but stopped under a lantern
that hung suspended by a chain across the street, drew
out his watch, and, while winding it up, said, in a loW|
distinct voice, as they passed him, ^^ Andrew Hofer,
eithet shave oif your beard or return to the Sands; you
have attracted attention, and are watched.''
And the three men moved on as if they had not
heard, or that the information in no way concerned
them.
Frank was still standing under the lantern, when be
was overtaken by Emmeran.
You might as well have waited for me, Frank, and
regulated your watch where you had light to see what
you were about."
'' No, Emmeran, I could not stand it any longer. The
self-possession of that Priestess of the Sun quite over-
powered me."
''And astonished me not a little," said Emmeran;
* Hofer's remains were brought from Italy, and interred in the
Hof-church at Innsbruck. Speckbacher has been given a place
beside him, and his funeral celebrated with great pomp in the year
1868. Haspinger, with all his wonted energy, aoeompanied th
Tyrolean Chasseurs to Italy as Field-Chaplain in the year 1848, aad
died of old age a few yean since at Salsburg.
22
254 AT OBBS.
*^ bat 70a muBt allow the mask was very well chmm^
and a proof of Hilda's complete acqaiescence in joor
wisbee."
^ Hang me if I have an idea wbat you mean^ or what
sbe meant eitber/' said Franks impatiently.
" Ton know," observed Emmeran^ " that a Priestess
of the Snn is supposed to have made a vow to live un-
loved, and, if possible, unloving, until her thirtieth
year, at the end of which time she is free, or, rather,
expected to marry and become a useful member of so-
ciety."
' Nonsense!" cried Frank, half laughing; "say, rather,
that this dress showed her beautiful figure to advantage,
and you will be nearer the mark."
" That may have influenced her, too," said Emmeran;
^^for the white gauze draperies and the spangled vail,
and even the gilt suns on her head and girdle, were
singularly becoming I"
" Well," said Prank, I thought her ^ she wished
to appear, and a coquette into the bargain ; but I suspect
sbe was affecting a nonchalance she could not have f^lt;
for I am quite sure I saw her hands tremble when she
untied her mask."
"How could it be otherwise?" said Emmeran: "re-
member the manner in which you parted, and her odd
position in consequence of your eccentric stipulations."
"My aunt need not have told her of them," said
Frank.
" I understood," replied Emmeran, " that Hilda had
heard from you yourself that her marriage was merely
nominal. Doris gave hopes of your coming to your
senses and settling down quietly in ten years or so ; but
my aunt seemed to think that a meeting would set all
to rights, and hoped you would not think of postponing
your reconciliation with Hilda so long, or even until
HOW TEST MET. 255
the war was orer. And she was right ; for it is hard to
say whdn that will be^ as it seems never to cease now-a-
days, and may break out here before long. Is this the
ease?''
"I shouldn't wonder if it were," answered Frank:
** the present state of affairs is not likely to last."
" I suppose," continued Emmeran, " I must not press
this subject; but I hope a time will oome when we oan
speak to each other as unreservedly as we used to do al
Westenried."
' The time will come, and soon," replied Frank, as
they stood before the door of the hotel; ''but while
waiting for it you need not look at me so reproachfully,
just as if you thought me an emissary of the Archduke's
or a spy I"
"Frank!"
" Now, don't try to appear as if you had not enter-
tained some such suspicion. Can you not believe that I
asked and ob^^ed leave of absence for the sole purpose
of seeing my aunt, Doris, and Hilda ?"
Nothing could be more natural, at all events," said
Smmeran.
" As to the state of public feeling in Tyrol," continued
Frank, " it is as well, or, rather, far better understood
in Vienna than here. I have had, therefore, nothing of
importance to ascertain, nothing to discover, and no new
acquaintances to make. That I have chiefly associated
with people already known to me and who are stanch
Austrians is not surprising, as I can speak to them of
hopes that would be offensive to you, and, in &ct, I
should never have entered a Bavarian house here if it
had not been to see those nearest and dearest to me
without restraint."
' I am very glad you are not here officially," observed
Emmeran.
266 AT OBDB.
So am I/' rejoined Frank; and if it be any satiA-
fiiotion, or even a relief to yonr mind, I can give you
the assurance that were I able to send a letter to Fal
lersberg with the certainty of its reaching him unopened,
it would contain no information beyond the assertion
that I have foond every thing precisely as we were led
to expect."
**Are yoQ, indeed, so very well informed?" asked
Anmeran.
** So well," answered Frank, taming back for a moment
as he was abont to enter the hotel, '^ so well that I cannot
0nbmit to be questioned by any one. I ask for no inform-
ation from you, and you must expect none from me.
Let us talk of my aunt and Doris and Hilda, the Di-
rector, or even your grandmother; but not a word of
politics or the discontent of the people here, the move-
ments of our armies, or Napoleon Bonaparte V
CHAPTER XXVI.
WHAT WAS DONE FOR APPEARANCE' SAKE.
Midnight was long past, and Hilda still sat before her
toilet-table in deepest revery. She shivered occasionally,
^for the room had become cold, and her dressing-gown
was of very light muslin, but she felt no inclination
either to go to bed or to open the door leading into her
sister's room, which, by mutual consent, was always left
ajar during the night.
^ I am sure Doris is still up," she murmured at length,
rising slowly ; " waiting perhaps for me to open the door
and speak of Frank.''
WHAT WAS DONE VOB AfPEAOANCS' SAKE. 257
Doris, however, was apparently not waiting : at least
she had extinguished her light and was in hed.
^ Grood-night, Hilda I I am not asleep/' she said, in a
cheerful voice.
And Hilda advanced into the room, stood beside the
bed, and stooped down to kiss her.
" How cold you are, and how dreadfully pale I" cried
Doris, as a gleam of light from the adjoining room fell
on her sister's face.
Hilda turned her back to the door.
' You are not ill, I hope V* said Doris, raising herself
on her elbow.
'^Noy I am only cold, but I do not like to go to bed
until I have asked you if ^if my mother said any thing
to Frank this evening."
Yes, she spoke to him alone, and at some distance
from me, just before you returned home.''
^I thought BO," said Hilda: ''her anxiety that we
should be reconciled is so great that she cannot be
neutral; and \ am sure she told him of my resolution
to abide by his stipulations, and requested him to have
patience with me."
" She had not time to say much," observed Doris ; "for
Emmeran, supposing himself de trap, almost immediately
stood up, and Frank seemed glad of the interruption. I
am, however, surprised at your objecting to her saving
you the annoyance of an explanation."
^ Because I am convinced she will say too much, Doris;
try to excuse me, perhaps, which I consider quite unne*
cessary. What did he say, dear, when he heard I was
at the Epplens' ?"
' He said nothing, but I suspect he was disappointed,
if not vexed."
" And you, Doris, how did you feel when you saw.and
spoke to him again 7"
22*
268 JLT ODOB.
" Yery glad ; very happy/'
" No recollections of Ulm J no regrets ?''
*' No, dear, nothing bat a desire r yonr mutual hap*
piness."
** Now, Doris, answer me truly, and without reserve :
do you think he has conquered the preference for yoa
that made him so inexorable to me?''
'* Quite," replied Doris, calmly : " I never doubted that
he woald ; and I am much mistaken if he will not like
you all the better now for the barrier he has himself
placed between you."
'*Dear Doris, do you indeed think this? you who
know him so well. And may I hope that you approve
of my resolution to make no more humble advances as
IdidatTJlm?"
*'He will expect nothing of that kind now," said
Doris: "you have only to receive him gradously, to
listen to his excuses patiently, and then to pardon mag-
nanimously."
"I should like," said Hilda, "to punish him a little
first; bat then, I am sure, you would take his part and
not mine."
" I have always taken part with you, Hilda, excepting
the day you strack him with your riding-whip."
" Oh, Doris, don't remind me of that. I wonder did
be think of it this evening ?"
" Scarcely," she replied ; " for we avoided speaking
of Ulm before you came, and afterwards, you know, we
talked of nothing but the Tyrolean masks. Bat I must
say, Hilda, I think you have punished him enough by
giving him so cool a reception this evening, and advise
you not to be -too hard upon him to-raorrow, when he
professes sorrow for the past and makes promises for
the fdtare."
*'I don't know what he will do or say," observed
WHAT WAS DONS FOB APPEARANCE' SAKE. 2&9
flikLa^ thoughtfhlly, *' bat I sappoise we Bfaall have some
explanation before long. I wish it were over, and
that I had said nothing I should regret afterwards.
I have composed a great many speeches, bat, when
the time comes to make them, shall probably forget
them aU.''
' And have recourse to tears V suggested Doris.
"No," said Hilda, firmly: "what I have to say
will not bear that sort of accompaniment. If Frank
only gives me a few days to overcome my embarrass-
ment "
" A few days I" cried Doris, interrupting her : " you
do not know Frank if you think he will give you a
single day. Prepare your speech for to-morrow, Hilda,
and go to bed now as fast as you can.''
The next day Hilda thought she perceived a deter-
mination on the part of her mother and. sister to leave
her alone in the drawing-room about the time that
Frank was expected, and therefore remonstrated with
the latter when she saw her retiring with her work in
her hand.
" I shall stay here if you wish it," said Doris, *' bat
I think it would be far better if you' had your explana-
tion without witnesses."
"I cannot agree with you, Doris. Frank had no
consideration of this kind in TTlm, and scorned and
slighted me openly enough !"
" But," said Doris, " I am convinced that even in Ulm
h6 began to repeixt."
" The result of his repentance," observed Hilda, ironi-
cally, " wils, however, the letter to my mother com^
plaining bitterly of having been inveigled into a mar-
riage against his will !"
'* Bemember her letter to him^ Hilda : could any thing
be more severe V
t60 AX omm.
** Perhaps not; bat he deserved te hear the vnjdeasant
troth from some one.''
" Now, Hilda, if you are going to repeat any of these
trnthe to him this morning, you really must excuse my
declining to hear them, or witnessing the quarrel that
will inevitably ensue/'
I don't intend to quarrel."
* As if it were possible to avoid it P
' Stay with me, Doris, and you shall see."
Doris hesitated.
"I do assure you/' she continued, half laughing,
I do assure you he shall find me a perfect Griselda,
obedient to a fault I"
''Now, Hilda, what do you mean?''
Before she could answer, the door opened, and Frank,
advancing into the middle of the room, wished them
''good-morning," adding, the moment the door was
closed, "Well, here I am, as my aunt says, 'for appear-
ance' sake;' and, as we are to appear a thoroughly
united family in public, I propose a short rehearsal
of our parts in private. May I kiss you for appear-
ance' sake, DoriB ?" he asked, approaching her with a
smile.
She understood this as an appeal for a precedent,
and, drawing him towards her, answered, gayly, " For
old affection's sake as often as you please, my dear
cousin."
A moment after be stood by Hilda, bent down to-
wards her, and whispered, " May I ?"
" Yes, my dear cousin, for appearance' sake as often
as you judge necessary."
Frank evidently did not like the manner in which
permission was given, availed himself of it never-
theless, and then ' hoped, as she laid so much stress
on the word causirij he might consider himself entitled
WHAT WAS BONB KOt ABPSABANOX' SAKS. 261
to an the priYileges of that singtilarly priTOoged rda-
tionship/'
** Undoubtedly, Frank/' she replied. " I only used
the word to convince you how perfectly I remembered
all you said to me at Ulm."
" I am sorry to find your memory so retentive," he
observed, biting the top of his cane in evident embai^
rassment. ''Emmeran gave me distinctly to under-
stand we were mutually to forgive and forget."
"I can forgive with all my heart, Frank," she an-
swered, smiling, ''and shall soon forget every thing
but your stipulations. The fact is," she added,
bending over her tapestry-frame so that her long enxte
fell on her che^k and partially concealed a deep blush,
^-** the fact is, I now value highly the permission you
gave me to go where I please and to do what I like;
and I have become so perfectly satisfied with our nomi-
nal union that I can await in perfect contentment the
time fixed by you for its termination."
Hilda spoke so low that Frank had to stoop down
until his head was quite close to hers in order to hear
what she said, while her mother, who just then opened
the door of her room, supposing their conference had
come to an amicable conclusion, advanced towards
them and began eagerly to express her satisfaction that
their estrangement was at an end; but the moment
Frank raised his head she saw her mistake, for his &ce
was pale, and his lips quivered when he tried to smile.
' What is the meaning of this ?" she asked, turning
reproachfully to her daughter.
Hilda looked up, pushed back her hair from her fiu)e,
and, with difficulty repressing a smile of triumph, replied^
^I believe Frank is surprised to find that I have learned
to make my duty my delight, and can obey his com^-
mands with pleasure."
262 AT OiDOS.
Fraftk stood ap and raised his bat from the table; his
aunt laid her hand on his arm, and said, apologetically,
*^ Gome, Frank; yon must bear Hilda's willfalness as she
has borne yours, ^with patience. I thought I said
enough yesterday evening to make you understand
that she had not yet been able to forgive without re-
serve."
" I assure you," interposed Hilda, demurely, " I have
not only forgiven without reserve, but also expressed
my deference to his wishes in the most satisEictory
manner. Frank understands me perfectly .''
" Yes," he said, slowly, ** I understand that I have
been brought here on false pretenses."
^'That was mamma's fault," said Hilda, hastily;
both Doris and I thought it would be far better to let
you find your own way back to us."
** It would have bden far better and pleasanter for us
all," said Frank; "but," he added, turning to his Atint,
'^ the question now is, ^having come here for appear-
ance' sake, must I remain with you ?"
" It will have a very odd appearance if you do not,"
she answered.
'^ Then," he continued, '' then we must mutually agree
to a complete cessation of hostilities."
'' Nothing can be more desirable," she replied.
He looked towards Hilda.
She nodded her head two or three times in smiling
acquiescence.
ti j^^ and /' he added, " no one is to know-
not 'even Emmeran is to be told ^that I have been
made a fool of in this way."
" If," said his aunt, earnestly, " if you do not your-
self complain or explain to him, be shall never hear
from us that you misunderstood my message."
Frank walked to a window, and| while he stood there
WHAT WAS BOMS VOB AlPPEARANGK* SAKS. 268
in grim displeasure, Doris and her motlier left the
room.
A long silence ensned. Hilda heard some very imptt*
tient movements, a dramming on the window, and ai
last the mattered words, *' There he is already, coming
down the street.''
She knew he meant^ Emmeran, and' wished to say
they expected him to walk with them to Wiltau; hat
from the moment she had heen alone with Frank her
coarage had deserted her, and, finding herself nnahle to
speak anconcemedly, she remained silent, secretly re-
joicing at the prospect of a speedy interruption to so
disagreeable a tete-d-tite.
Frank's impatience visibly increased; he strode to
wards the door, then back to the window, and seemed
still irresolute what to do, until he heard Emmeran's
footsteps ip the ante-room ; then, urged perhaps by the
fear of exposing himself to ridicule, he sprang suddenly
across the room, shoved with all his force one of the
heavy arm-chairs close to Hilda, flung himself into it,
put his arm round her, seized her hand, and, as the door
opened, bent down his head, and whispering, '' We mast
do or say something for appearance' sake," allowed Em-
meran to suppose he had interrupted a scene bf joyfal
reconciliation.
The moment Hilda recovered from her astonishment,
the supreme absurdity of their situation provoked an
inclination to laugh that she found it difficult to sup-
press. Frank thought there was triumph in her mirth,
and drew back with such evident displeasure and morti-
fication that Emmeran, supposing himself an intruder,
stammered an apology, and prepared to leave the room.
Pray, don't go," said Frank, rising, and almost inK
mediately recovering his self-possession ; '' Hilda and I
are not lovers, you know, and people who have been so
864 AT O0]6
long married ought not to be pat out of countenance so
easily. Oar tite-drtete has lasted quite long enough, I
AMure you.''
^'I came by appointment " began Emmeran.
**Yes/' interposed Hilda; 'and we shall be ready
directly for our walk to Wiltau. Frank will, I hope, go
with us, and tell us something about Vienna and his
frienda there. Perhaps,'' she added, stopping for a mo-
ment at the door, '^ perhaps he will find that we know
more of his sayings and doings than he does of ours."
" I dare say," said Frank, carelessly, " that Pallers-
berg's letters to my aunt kept you tolerably au couranV*
" There were others who have been far more commu-
nieative," she replied; '^ and/' here she raised her finger,
playfully threatening, ^ and you may expect to be taken
to task some day when we have nothing else to talk
about."
They were all soon after on their way to Wiltau.
Frank immediately drew Hilda's arm within his, and,
whispering gayly, " It is all for appearance' sake, you
know," walked on with her alone.
Doris and her mother looked at each other inquiringly,
while Emmeran smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and
obaerved, 'Is it possible you expected any thing else?"
CHAPTBE XXTU.
LOYE OB HABIT?
" Well, Doris," said Frank, one morning when he
found himself alone in the drawing-room with his cousin,
''all this is Yery pleasant; Hilda is charming, my aunt
kindness itself, and you, ^precisely what I expected;
LOVl OB HABIT f 26&
but here I am nearly at the end of my leave of absence
in exactly the same position as when I entered the
honse. Hilda may like this sort of thing, and we hav^
certainly been flirting away at a famous rate lately; bat
I think it is time to be serious now. Couldn't you give
her a hint that the next advance ought to come from
her, seeing that I am ' en penitence/ as old Madame
Fredon used to say V
'!Remember Ulm/' answered Doris; ''recall the man
ner in which you received her advances then, and
have patience."
He did remember Ulm, and thought of the painfbl
midnight parting from the cousin by whom he now sat,
apparently in very nearly the state of calm self-posses-
sion she had then predicted time would give them both ;
and then he recalled the vision of a trembling child-like
bride whom he had scorned, whose advances he had
spumed, and was reasonable enough to check his natural
impetuosity and answer, quietly, '' The recollection of
Ulm is not calculated to make me patient, ^at least not
with myself, Doris; for I am now convinced that I
ought either to have braved you all and persisted in my
refusal to marry Hilda, or, having yielded, to have
done so with a good grace. Hilda must, however, have
iold you that I latterly made advances to her in Ulm
that were singularly ill received."
Doris looked up inquiringly.
^ The day of the bombardment, when I accompanied
her home from the hospital, she would not listen to my
really penitent apologies, but pushed and pommeled me
in the street; and you and others saw her a few days
afterwards lash me pretty freely with her horsewhip."
'' She has long got over all that kind of impetuosity,"
said Doris, smiling.
' ''Yes," replied Frank; "she seems to have taken a
23
AT ODDS.
leaf oat of your book, uid to have profited so well bj
yonr instructions that she is more than a match for me
BOW."
"Have you any objection to her resembling me?"
asked Doris.
'^ I believe I would rather have her as she was at
TJlm," he replied; "we should suit each other better;
for I begin to think, Doris, that it is not judicious for a
man to choose a wife so superior to him as you would
have been, ^I mean as you certainly will be whenever
you condescend to bestow your hand and a moderate
portion of dispassionate regard on on whomsoever
my words may induce you to think at this moment."
" I think of no one," said Doris, quietly.
"Don't you?" said Frank, laughing; "then what on
earth brings Emmeran here every day V*
" Habit," she replied.
Habit!" he repeated; "then habit seems in a fair
way to make you necessary to his happiness."
" It is not impossible that he may think so/' she an-
swered, " at least for some time ; but change of scene
and occupation enables people, especially men, to con-
quer such fancies with wonderful facility."
" I protest against the word * facility/ " said Frank,
earnestly; "but if you speak from experience I dare
not contradict you."
"Yes, Frank, I speak from experience; and you have
had far more than I, if the half of what we have heard
be true."
" What have you heard?" he asked, coloring. -
" That there have been houses which you have fre-
quented quite as habitually as Emmeran does ours, and
that you have had fancies which you made no effort to
conceal as he does."
" I cannot live without the society of women/' said
LOTS OK HABIT l* 267
Frank; ^and, if 70a knew more of the world, yott
would scarcely blame me for seeking it among people
whose manners and habits most resemble those of my
home/'
" I do not blame yoa, Frank, if you never forgot that
you bad neither hand nor heart at your disposal/'
" Well,'' he said, leaning back in his chair and looking
up to the ceiling, " well, it was pretty generally known
that in a fit of enthusiastic deference and devotion to
one cousin I had bestowed my hand on another, and
was not particularly happy in consequence; as to my
heart, Doris, to tell the truth, I did not well know what
to do with it at first, and I confess that I became inti-
mate in some pleasant houses, acquired habits rather
resembling Emmeran's here, and assiduously endeavored
to banish Ulm and all that occurred there from my
memory/'
" So we heard," said Doris, dryly.
''You did not mind," he said, bending forward; "for
your affection for me was merely ' habit,' I suppose/'
''It was habit," said Doris, laying down her work
and fixing her eyes calmly on his face, ' but it had grown
with my growth and strengthened with my strength;
it was the affection of nearest relationship, and what it
was at Garvagh, Westenried, and Ulm it is now and
will be as long as I live/'
" Allow me to speak as plainly as yourself, Doris," he
replied, warmly; " and, in extenuation of my conduct at
Ulm, let me tell you that my affection for you was more
than habit : it was love, a ^passionate first love, Doris.
You and you alone were ever present in my mind when
I longed for promotion, glory, and a Theresian cross;
for, with all your good sense, my dear cousin, you could
not conceal from me your value for the 'bubble reputa-
tion,' and I would have sought it at the cannon's
288 AT ODDS.
month' to win your heart Bren as a hoy I was quite
aware you liked me all the better for the reckless deeds
that so often brought me to grief daring the holidays at
Garvagh."
Doris could not deny this. She well remembered
that her preferring him to all his brothers had first been
cansed by his protecting her from the attack of an
angry bnll, having drawn the animal's attention to him-
self while she and his much older brother Henry sought
safety in flight; she was conscious, too, that his hard
riding, desperate driving, and wagers as wild as perilous,
had found favor in her eyes, and that at a later period
she had in her heart made nzcuses for less pardonable
proo& of courage, even while compelling herself to utter
words of reproach.
" I believe," she said, reluctantly, " I believe all women
admire courage as a manly quality and one that they
seldom have the good fortune to possess themselves."
So much the better/' said Frank. a don't think
courage at all necessary for a woman excepting when
on horseback; for men it is indispensable, hut is so
common, dear Doris, that he who possesses nothing else
is poor indeed I I am afraid you think this is my case,
and, if Hilda be of the same opinion, the sooner I join
my regiment again the better."
While Frank was speaking, Hilda had entered the
room, and he named her just as she stood opposite him
with her hand on the back of her sister's chair.
"Don't you think, Doris," she said, bending forwards
and speaking in an audible whisper, '^ don't you think he
wants us to contradict him?"
"He'wants more than that," answered Doris, laugh-
ing; ''but we won't spoil him with flattery, like.the ladies
of Vienna and Prague."
"And Innsbruck too," said Hilda; "our friends tell
]:XV 0ft HABIT? mt
me that I can form no idea of his sadden popalarity
iiere."
^ That,'' said Franks is easily accounted for when
70a rememher that I am an Austrian officer : believe me,
GUlda, my popularity here is altogether political."
" And elsewhere V she asked.
I am not aware of any/' he answered. * Colonel
JBereny and General Yacquant gave me introdactions,
and people were kind and hospitable, perhaps in con-
sideration of my being so far from my own country and
kindred."
^We have heard that some were more than kind/'
persisted Hilda, with heightened color; that in one
hoose you were every day and all day 1"
'' I was aide-de-camp; and had my horses there.''
And now?"
^ I am no longer aide-de-camp/' he replied, laughing;
but I am e^ery day and all day at General Yacquant's
house. Have you any objection ?"
^ Oh, no, not the least. I suppose, Frank, that six
years hence, when the war is quite ended, you will be a
general or at least a colonel ?"
' The chances are in my &vor just now/' he an-
swered.
And then, Frank, we too shall have aides-de-camp,
sha'n't we ?"
" Perhaps I shall," he said, coloring very perceptibly.
And they will have their horses in our stables,"
she continued, '^ and be every day and all day in our
house ?"
That will depend upon circumstances," he replied;
' for, though I should have no objection to a quiet, steady
fellow such as I am "
. At this moment a servant entered with a note whiok
had been sent from a neighboring hotel.
23*
270 AS OBOS.
Frank's color deepened as he read, and an exi^r^essioB
of intense annoyance passed over his features.
** No answer^^' he said, looking np for a moment. " I
shall call in the course of the afternoon." Then, twist-
ing the note round his fingers, he turned again to Hilda,
and continued : " What were we talking about ? Was
it not of the time when we should be living to-
gether '*
No : we were talking of aides-de-camp," she said,
quickly; * and I wish to bespeak one who can ride,
drive, walk, talk, sing, and dance with me. I should
like bim to have a good deal of general information, a
decided predilection for England and every thing Eng-
lish, and, if he be a Hungarian, so much the better, as I
can take advantage of the opportunity to learn his lan-
guage r
"I shall attend to your directions," said Frank, 'and,
when the time comes, seek a Hungarian answering this
description. With regard to tbe language, if you bave
any fancy for it, I can give you some instruction before-
hand myself; for wben I was appointed to my present re-
giment I was obliged, as a matter of course, to learn it."
" We heard so," she observed, pointedly, " and from
all accounts were led to suppose tbat you found tbe
wife of your colonel, Madame de Bereny, an extremely
agreeable instructress."
'^An extremely agreeable acquaintance, or rather
friend," he replied ; *^ but for the Hungarian language I
had a master every day for a year."
* Perhaps, then, you only frequented her house so
assiduously in order to acquire fluency in speaking ?"
"Not exactly," said Frank, rising with the evident
intention of leaving the room; "I liked both the colonel
and his wife, had a general invitation to their house,
and felt as much at home there as I do here."
X.OVS OR HABXT? S71
'^Perh^w moref'' snggeBted Hilda, with some pique.
That might easily be" he answered, in the same
tone, while closing the door.
*^ Well, Doris, I hope yon are now conyinced that aU
we have heard is true V
** No, Hilda : I am mnch more convinced that all my
mis^ringb ahout your jealoosy were well foonded; and
I am sorry you have betrayed yonrself to Frank."
^^I could not help it, Doris: every thing he does,
every thing he says, convinces me that his coming here
was a mere daty, without a particle of inclination, ex-
cepting, perhaps, to see you again I He tried to hate
me at TJlm, and I believe failed in his efforts; he. is try-
ing to like me now, perhaps, and seems equally unsae*
oessful r
^ I am quite sure, Hilda, he likes yon as much as any
reasonable woman could desire.''
" But I am, not reasonable on this subject," said Hilda.
" I am glad you are aware of it," observed Doris, " for
Frank seems to think so too, and expeets the next ad
vance to come from you."
He may wait long for it," replied Hilda.
" I hope not," said Doris : ^* remember, you are hia
wife, and that an effort to conciliate on your part is the
most natural thing imaginable."
*^ Oh, very likely ; but I shall never attempt any thing
of the kind again, and I hope you will explain this to
him."
' No, dear : I do not at all like this office of mediating,
which you both seem so determined to force upon me.
Frank requested me to tell you that he expected you to
yield a little now; you say he may wait a while. I
hope he may do so, and not relax in demonstrations of
affection that ought to have removed all your jealou0
doubtB."
S7S AX 0M&
^ They have not removed thMii/' said Hilda : '^ I be-
lieve all that I have heard, and am as convinced as I
was before he came here that he consoled hims^f for
yoor loss and altogether forgot me in the house of tbis
Madame de Bereny."
'^ Aa fiir as I am concerned/' said Doris, 'he is more
than consoled, fbr he has just given me to understand
iha( he now knows I was not at all a person calculated
to have made him happy."
^Dear Poris, did he say that V exclaimed Hilda, with
irrepressible exultation; ^'did he indeed say that, ^and
to your
^ Something to that purport, at all events/' answered
Boris. But, oh, Hilda T' she added, reproachfully,
^ can it be possible that all this time you have been
jealous of me too T'
^No, Doris, no; that would be too unreasonable I
1^0, not Jealous, certainly not in the common sense of
the woi^ ; but how could I be sure tbat Frank would
not again see and feel your superiority to me and every
one ? How could I be certain that his first love wonkl
not return with double force? Ob, Doris," she cried,
suddenly covering her face with her hands, '^ I know
you mu(9t hate and despise me for this weakness."
" No/' said Doris, sorrowfully, " I rather pity you, and
greatly fear, if you cannot conquer it, you will not only
make yourself unhappy, but also weary and worry
Frank beyond endurance."
"Doris," cried Hilda, petulantly, "it is easy for you
to reprove and warn, ^you, with your calm, cousinly
affection for Frank and your phlegmatic friendship for
Emmeran ! What can you know of jealousy ?"
*' Nothing," answered Doris, " excepting that I do nofe
eonsider it a proof of love."
LOTS OR HABIT? 278
" Don't you?" said HOda ; "but I do, and intend to
put Frank to the test by if
*^ I advise you not, Hilda; for I suspect his education
and habits wonld rather prompt him to demand expla-
nations from the supposed rival than from yon. Be-
member what occurred at Ulm before your marriage/'
'This is intolerable !'' cried Hilda. "Here have I
been all this time, never venturing to dance twice at a
ball with the same person, never receiving morning
visitors, and giving up riding because our escort had
become too numerous, while Frank has been amusing
himself morning, noon, and night at this Madame de
Bereny's, not to mention all the other demi and demi
semi flirtations of which we have heard."
I don't believe the half of what we have heard,"
said Doris, " and advise you to judge of Frank for your-
self. Just determine to suppose yourself not yet married
to him "
" That I can do very easily," interposed Hilda.
"And," continued Doris, ^*^and also suppose Frank
merely a person from whom you had reason to expect
a proposal of marriage "
''Well, Doris, that seems to me exactly my position
during the last three weeks. But he will not propose;
he says every thing but that I"
"Probably," said Doris, "he fears another repulse;
and, indeed, you refer so continually to the foolish
stipulations made by him at Ulm that I do not wonder
at his cautions."
" It seems," observed Hilda, "that Frank and I are
doomed to be at odds, like all the rest of the world. I
could almost suppose that I represented Bavaria, and
Frank Austria ; we are at present observing each other
and manoeuvring, but a very little provocation on either
aide would again cause an open declaration of war."
274 AT ODDS.
' Avoid that/' said Doris, "if you possibly can."
" Yes, dear, I mean to do so ; but you, being France,
ought to help Bavaria "
''Not I," said Doris, laughing; ''I am England, and
side with Austria. Emmeran may, if you like, repre-
sent France; "
And just at that moment they heard him speaking to
their mother in the adjoining room, the door of which
he had partly opened.
'' How often one thinks and speaks of people who
chance to be near us I" observed Hilda.
Emmeran has brought some one with him," said
Boris, turning her head in the direction of another voice
that just then named Hilda in eager inquiry.
'' It is Sigmund I" said Hilda. '' What can have in-
duced him to come here ? If you are the attraction,
Doris, I hope you will occupy his attention exclusively,
for there is no one whose observation I should dread bo
much : he will watch every look and weigh every word
until he find out the hollow truce between Frank and
me. If I had only refrained from mentioning this odious
Madame de Bereny tokiay, or if Frank could at all
conceal his feelings, ^but there is no chance for us;
this time to-morrow Sigmund will know every thing we
wish to conceal, and we shall not have even an idea of
the motives that induced him to come to Innsbruck !"
Ga08PDBP088. 276
CHAPTER XXVin.
GROSS-PURPOSES.
SiOMinrD received a very cool reception from both
Doris and Hilda, a fngid bow from Frank when they
met at dinner, and all three declined speaking French,
or appearing in the least interested in his adventures
during his two years' sojourn at Paris. The most touch-
ing anecdotes of Napoleon's magnanimity, the most
amazing accounts of the splendor of the French court,
having failed to elicit a remark from Hilda, he at length
tamed to her and observed, *^Well, Hilda, my father
was right when he said you would soon become a stanch
Austrian. O'More's politics are yours now, of course:
so I scarcely know whether you will be glad or sorry
to hear that we are again on the eve of war.''
"I am sorry, very sorry," said Hilda; "but Prank
has been too little with me to have had any influence
on my political opinions : so you may consider me quite
Bavarian still."
"Indeed I Then perhaps you get the Augsburg paper
regularly, and know what is going on in the world.
Most people here seem in utter ignorance of every thing,
excepting that the conscription is unpopular, and that
the peasants' sons have fled to the mountains to avoid
being enlisted."
There are more things unpopular than the con*
scription," interposed Doris; "but we have no means of
showing our discontent at present otherwise than by
confiding our presentiments of evil, and repeating pea-
sant prophecies of war, to whoever will listen to us."
276 AT 0DD8.
'^ If yon have had any presentiments/' said Sigmand,
it would interest me extremely to hear them /' and he
glanced, while speakings firom Doris to Frank.
The latter appeared wholly occnpied with the frait
on his plate, and did not even look np.
" I have a strong presentiment/' answered Doris, ^* that
this state of affairs cannot last/' and the scarcely per-
ceptible color in her cheeks deepened to a bright pink,
as she continued, Of course we shall have war, never-
ending war, until all make common cause with England
against France."
Nothing less probable than that/' said Sigmund,
shrugging his shoulders. ''Is not Austria just now
preparing to invade Bavaria, in order to resume the
power and privileges formerly possessed by the Em-
perors of Germany?"
"That is your view of the case," said Doris. "I
may he allowed to think that Austria only wants to
free herself and others from French thraldom, and
to recover her lost territories^ Tyrol, of course, first
of all."
'' I, for one/' said Sigmund, '' should have no objection
to resign Tyrol, which is a burden to us, a supersti*
tious, unruly people, whose demands it is impossible to
satisfy."
"Superstitious they maybe," said Doris; "but they
are a loyal and courageous people, and Austrian to their
hearts' core."
''You think, perhaps/' said Sigmund, again glancing
towards Frank, ^" you think that, in case ot a war, they
will rebel and join Austria V
" I don't know. I hope they may."
*'But in that case Innsbruck is no place for yoa, my
aunt, or Hilda, and I can only trust you will all return
with me to Westenried."
0BO8-FURPO88. 277
. ' We have Bothing to fear/' said Doris. " Mamma and
I will be a protection to Hilda from the * rebels,' as you
call them; and she and Emmeran must defend ns in
return from the French^ who, of course, will make their
appearance soon after the first cannon-shot."
"If O'More do not urge you to leave Innsbruck/' said
Sigmund, ^and this time he fixed his eyes steadily on
Frank, " there is probably nothing to be apprehended.
I consider his allowing you to remain here a sort of
guarantee for the peace of Tyrol."
Frank did not choose to take the least notice of this
speech, and continued his occupation of carving a double
eagle out of a piece of orange-peel.
General Eankel said something similar to me yes-
terday," observed Hilda ; " but I told him that Frank
never interfered with our plans or movements, and, as
well as I could judge, seemed to consider Innsbruck a
very suitable and pleasant place of residence for us."
'^ If you gave the general such an assurance, Hilda, it
must have been very satisfactory to him/' observed
Sigmund.
"1 should rather think," said Hilda, '^it must be a
matter of perfect indifference to him where we lived."
" Very likely, at any other time/' said Sigmund; " but
just now Greneral Eankel may naturally suppose that
O'More would use all his influence to induce you to
leave Innsbruck, if there were the slightest chance of a
rebellion."
There is none," said Hilda, confidently; '^but, even
if there were, I really do not know to what place we
could go."
"To Westenried/' answered Sigmund; "nothing
would give me greater satisfaction than being able to
persuade you to return with me to Bavaria."
No, Sigmund ; mamma intends to wait until you are
24
278 AT OlMW.
BMurried before she again resides in her apartments
there."
That is unfortnnate/' said Slgmnnd, with nnusnal
eameetness : " let me, however, hope I may be of use
as escort to TTlm or Forsteck/'
" I ^that is, we dislike both places, and would not
meet the people there now for any consideration/'
Indeed 1 I was not aware of that/'
Besides," added Hilda, hastily, "it is absolutely
necessary for mamma's health that we should spend the
autumn in Meran: so you see if we were to leave Tyrol
we could only go to some place in Austria."
" That would never answer," observed Sigmundj "for
they say we are on the eve of a war that will end pre-
cisely like that of the year Jfve/"
" May I ask whom you mean by ' they' ? " asked Frank,
looking up at last.
"No, Frank, you may not," interposed his aunt, rising
fiKm the dinner-table ; " nor may Sigmund continue to
speak innuendoes that only serve to irritate and remind
us of our different political opinions."
" I assure you, dear aunt," began Sigmund, " I meant
nothing offensive in supposing that O'More might be
better informed of the state of Tyrol than I am."
" Perhaps so," she answered ; " but I must insist on
the avoidance of all political discussions. What is the
use of perpetually quarreling about the actions of people
over whom we have no control, or angrily discussing
events over which we have had no influence? Our
want of unanimity in politics is unfortunate ; but, as
we are not likely to change each other's opinions, I must
prohibit the subject altogether."
"Be it so," replied Sigmund; "after such a long
separation we can be at no loss for conversation f and
he took a place beside Doris when they entered the
OBoss-PtmposBs. 279
drawing-room, from which he never moved during the
remainder of the evening.
Frank and Hilda were nnusually embarrassed in con-
sequence of their conversation about Madame de Bereny,
and, though the consciousness of being watched intently
by Sigmund's penetrating eyes induced them to speak
to each other occasionally, there was something in the
manner of both that immediately excited his curiosity
and induced him, after he had taken leave, to accom-
pany his brother home, instead of returning at once to
his hotel.
Now, though Bmmeran was not at all disposed to be
communicative, Sigmund elicited enough by means of
cross-questioning to confirm his suspicions that Hilda
and Frank were by no means on such good terms as
they wished people to suppose, and that Doris had not
found any one to take Frank's place.
" I rather expected by this time to find a rival in you,"
said Sigmund, carelessly.
A rival r
'^ Yes, after a fashion. She might have got used to
your society, you know, and discovered that you are a
good sort of fellow in the main : that would be enough
in time to induce Djoris to marry you or any one, I
should think."
*^ Thank you for the hint," said Emmeran, dryly.
" It was no hint, Emmeran : it was merely a supposi-
tion, which I am glad to find without foundation. The
fact is, living in Paris is very expensive, and my finances
are at so low an ebb that I must again and seriously
think of marriage. My father has never forgiven my
interference about Mina, ^to hear him talk, one would
really suppose I had deliberately taken her life, so I
have nothing further to expect from him; you have
barely enough for yourself in these hard times; and,
280 AT ODDS.
after having enjoyed so many years' liberty, I have a;
fancy to enter the army again : what then remains bat
matrimony? Now, as yoa sapiently observed this
morning, I am not a man to come to Innsbruck with-
out a motive " Here Sigmund paused.
"Am I to understand/' asked Emmeran, with won-
derful composure, "that you have come here to propose
to Doris?"
" No 1 did not come for that purpose but
I am inclined to think it would be my best plan now ;
her fortune would answer well enough, though I should
be very glad it were larger, and that I had not to wait
until her mother's death for the best half of it : how-
ever, I still like and admire Doris immensely, and when
I take into consideration that at the time she refused
me so decidedly at Westenried she had been strongly
prejudiced against me by Mina, and had not had time
to forgive my having aided and abetted in her separa-
tion from Frank, I think the present time fox more
favorable, and have little doubt of success."
"I never knew you had actually spoken to her of
marriage," said Emmeran, ''and cannot* imagine how
you had courage under the circumstances."
' It would certainly have been wiser had I been less
precipitate in every way," said Sigmund; "but at that
time I thought altogether of love, and not in the least
of money, and a precious fool I made of myself 1"
'' Don't do it again/' said Emmeran.
"No danger; the chances that were mine at Ulm are
lost forever ; but, as a marriage with Doris would now
be an act of wisdom on my part, the effort must be
made, and at once, to-morrow, perhaps, if an opportu-
nity oflfer. I am sorry to interfere with any plans you
may have formed, Emmeran, but you see I can't help
myself."
0B08-PinaP06X8. 281'
" I have no plans, Bi^nnnd ; I ba^e nevenr dared to-
tell Doris that I love her."
'^ More fool you, and all the better for me/' answered
Sigmnnd. ' Good-night 1 Dine with me to-morrow,
and you shall hear the result of my conference with
Doris/'
He nodded his head, and turned in the direction of his
hotel, the way towards which led him back to a more
central part of the town, and past the house where his
aunt lodged. What more natural than that he should
look up at the windows of the still lighted rooms and
speculate which was inhabited by Doris ? And he did
look up, but only for a moment, as his attention was
almost immediately attracted by the opening of a small
door made for the convenience of pedestrians at the
side of the porte^ochere. A man stepped into the streei,
and, having turned round and carefully relocked the
door, drew up the collar of his cloak, pressed his hat
over his brow, and walked qnickly down the street.
Had this occurred elsewhere, it is more than probable
that Sigmund would not have felt sufficient interest or
curiosity to look a second time in that direction ; but
an inmate and the possessor of a key to that house
was well worth another glance, and that glance was
sufficient to make him certain that the person now
striding on before him was no other than Frank, who
so short a time previously had haughtily bowed him a
good-night," and then, bedchamber-candlestick in
hand, sedately walked, with his aunt, Doris, and Hilda,
along the corridor to his room 1
Many wild conjectures passed through Sigmund's
mind, but all were at fault when he discovered that
Frank was actually going to the hotel where he himself
lodged. By walking a little slower, he allowed him to
enter alone the still lighted entrance to the honse^
an AS Mi.
obserred thst he Bpoke a few words to one of the
waiters, and then, springing up the stairs, seemed to
require no further directions.
The same waiter stood by the stakcase as Sigmund
approached it, civil and loquacious as such persons ge*
nerally are, so that a question or two concerning the
new arrivals soon procured the information that a
Hongarian lady, Madame de Bereny, had arrived that
afternoon, and was now in possession of the rooms ad-
joining his.
^ And a ^that gentleman who has just gone up-
bMibV said Sigmund.
That is an officer in her husband's regiment. She
sent to him immediately after her arrival, and he came for
a short time to make arrangements for her, as her ser-
vants are all Hungarians and speak very little Grer-
^ I suppose,'^ said Sigmund, 'he has come here now
to complete these arrangements ?"
'! am not quite sure of that,'' answered the waiter;
^' for he rather seemed to think our house too noisy for
her, and recommended a removal to a private lodging."
Quite a Mend of the &mily," observed Sigmund.
"Without doubt," answered the waiter; "for he
knew all the servants by name, and the lady's lap-dog
nearly went mad with delight when he saw him."
Sigmund walked up-stairs to his room, opened and
closed the door very quietly, and then threw himself at
full length on a sofa.
Now, this sofa was placed against the door of com-
munication with the adjoining apartment, and it is pro-
bable that a similar piece of furniture was there also so
placed, for Sigmund soon heard Frank and Madame de
Bereny's voices in eager conversation. He could dis-
tinguish every tone and word ; but they spoke in a
CBOSS-BUBPOBES. SM.
langaage iinknown "to him, wliioh he natiirany snppoBed
to be Hungarian^ yet felt exceedingly irritated at the
lady's not preferring German, French, or even English,
which would have enabled him at once to ascertain all he
wanted to know.
Sigmnnd, however, soon felt convinced that he knew
enough to put Frank in some measure in his power, for
were not this visit to Madame de Bereny a secret, assu-
redly some other hour would have been chosen for it.
He resolved to see his brother in the morning, and
cross-question him again about Frank and Hilda; for
he began once more strongly to suspect there was con-
tinued repugnance on one side, and pique, if not indif-
ference, on liie other. Such feelings under the circum-
stances were so possible, so probable, that he had in
&ct come to Innsbruck fully prepared to find it so; and
nothing but Frank's presence, and his being domiciled
in his aunt's house, could have made him believe the
contrary.
It was while Sigmund was with Emmeran at an early
hour on the following day, that Frank entered the
drawing-room and lounged on a sofa there, with a book
iu his hand, until the hour that Doris usually made her
appearance. The moment he saw her and had con-
vinced himself that Hilda was not following her, he
started up and approached her, exclaiming, ^'Give me
advice and assistance, Doris; I am in a horrible di
lemma.''
" About what, Frank ?"
' Hilda is jealous, and Madame de Bereny is
here I"
And what has induced Madame de Bereny to come
to Innsbruck ?" she asked, gravely.
^Her health. She is on her way to Meran."
" But," said Doris, " it is too early for Meran."
284 AT 0MMI.
jQ8t8o/' he aaswered; ^'and tbar^re she mtendB
to remain a short time here/'
^ A very singalar arrangement^ to say the least/' ob-
served Doris.
"Not at all/' he replied: "her husband is likely to
be in aotive service, and wishes her out of the way, as
she is very delicate and cannot bear much knocMng
about."
" She knew you were here ?" said Doris.
^ Of course/' he answered, ' and expects me to make
all sorts of arrangements for her."
^That is natural enough/' observed Doris, ''when
you have been so much in her house."
Quite natural," said Frank 3 ''but do you suppose
Hilda will think so?"
D2ris was silent.
You know she will not," he continued, '^and Madame
de Bereny wants to be introduced to my aunt and you
and Hilda. I wish I had had the good fortune to have
left Innsbruck before she came ; nothing but the hope
of a satis^tory explanation with Hilda has detained
me latterly, and now I see no prospect of any thing but
a regular blow-up !"
" Perhaps you had better return to Vienna at once,"
suggested Doris.
.'I can't, dear girl, until I have got lodgings for
Kadame de Bereny here and written about apartments
for her at Meran. Ton have no idea how helpless she
is I If she were only fairly out of that hotel, it would
be a great relief to me ; for Sigmund's rooms are near
hers, and in order to avoid meeting him I Was obliged
to call on her last night after you had all gone to bed I"
" And she received you so late ?"
" Why not? she supposed we had had company, and
it was not necessary for me to explain."
^^ Yon mast be verj intimate/' said Doris.
"Very/' said Frank : "quite like relations/'
**And a ^is she young and handsome ?''
*'I declare I never thought about her age/' he
answered, but should think her a good deal older than
either you or Hilda, at all events. She is a very attract-
ive woman, and her eyes especially are quite beautiiUl,
just like yours, only the eyelashes are not so long and
black."
^^I wish/' said Doris, ^Hhat, for Hilda's sake, she
were much older and less engaging."
"Oh, well, so do I," said Prank; "but the question
now is, do you think my aunt wiU objeet to know her f"
'^I think it will altogether depend upon Hilda," an*
swered Doris.
"Then," said Frank, "you must undertake to explain
every thing, and persuade Hilda to be good-natured and
civil."
"And if she should decline the acquaintance of your
attractive friend, Frank?"
"In that case," he answered, "I shall be under the
necessity of using all my influence to induce Madame de
Bereny to leave Innsbruck without delay."
"Do so, Frank," cried Doris, eagerly; "it will be
much the best plan."
"I would rather not," he said, reluctantly; "for you
see, dear, if I have not time to write and make arrange-
raeuts about her lodgings at Meran, I must go there
with her myself."
" Nonsense, Frank ! she could not be so unreasonable
as to expect any thiug of the kind."
" She brought me a letter from her husband," he con-
tinued, "and he requests me either to establish her here
under the protection of my relations, or ^to take her
to Meran."
AT ODDB.
Then/' said Dona, bending over h^ work^toUe, and
diligently arranging its oontentS; " then it was not at
his desire that yon relaxed in yonr attentions to her
and ceased to be his aide-de-camp?''
'Not at all/' answered Frank; ^ my promotion would
have obliged me to resign at all events, and it was Ma-
dame de Bereny herself who requested me to sacrifice
the jdeasure of her society in order to silence the slan^
derons tongues of her best Mends and most intimate
aeqmaintances."
'^ She was right/' said Boris.
"Of course she was/' rejoined Frank: "we continue
as good friends as ever, and more than ever enjoy a
meeting when an occasion offers; for it is astonishing
how difficulties of any kind enhance the value of in-
tercourse. Hilda seems to understand this sort of thing
perfectly; for her pride and prudery have made me more
in love with her than I ever thought possible."
"I am glad to hear that/' said Doris.
" Are you ? then you must listen to the rest of it. I .
never until yesterday even suspected that she was of a
jealous disposition; and a more disagreeable discovery
I could hardly have made, for my wife might have had
almost any other fault with impunity; but to weigh my
words and looks to suit a jealous woman's fancy is a leK
son I can never learn, and I am so convinced of this
that I do not even intend to try."
"You always seem to forget/' observed Boris, "how
little your conduct has been calculated to give her con-
fidence in you."
"No, Boris, that consideration alone has enabled me
to.be like patience on a monument smiling at grief
ever since I came here."
Boris laughed.
"You may think it very amusing," said Frank; "but
GBOM^PITBMBXS. 287
I can Bcaroely imagine a more absurd or irritating posi-
tion than mine lately. As long as I thought Hilda was
punishing me for my misdemeanors at XTlm I was obliged
to be patient; bnt I shall positively rebel if she in-
tend to call me to account for my sayings and doings
at Yienna^ and take it into her head to be jealous^
and jealous without cause, too ?'
"Without causer repeated Doris; "can I with truth
give Bilda this assurance V
Frank hesitated for a moment, and then said, "May
I speak without reserve? may I confess "
No, Prank/' said Doris, rising, "I think you had
better not; but do try and persuade this Madame de
Bereny to leave Innsbruck.''
"Dearest Doris,'' he cried, catching her hand as she was
passing, and detaining her, " you mistake me altogether.
I was not thinking of Madame de Bereny. Hilda could
only gain by a comparison with her, or indeed with any
one I have ever known, excepting yourself. Of you
alone, Doris, she might with some sort of reason be
jealous, for I 1 cannot help myself, I Now,
don't be angry," he added, coloring deeply; "all I mean
to say all I have to confess is, that if Hilda will not
teach me to forget, I am very likely to fall back int
my old habit,' as you call it; in which case the
remedy you recommended yesterday change of scene
and occupation will become absolutely necessary for
me."
At this moment the door opened, and Sigmund ad-
vanced into the room.
** I hope, Doris," said Frank, when he saw her about to
leave them, " I hope you are going to tell my aunt and
Hilda what I have said about Madame de Bereny; and,
/while you are doing so, I shall just have time to write a
letter toPallenberg and take it to the post"
288 AT ODDS.
CHAPTBE TTTT
A RXTOBT UNOOUBTEOUS.
FsAKK wsote^ and Sigmund sat at no great distance,
"With a book in his hand, over the pages of which his
eyes inquisitively followed the quickly-moving pen. The
letter was so short and so hastily written, that commence-
ment and signature alike required pressure on the blot-
ting-paper before folding, and Frank pushed back his
chair and stood up while extending his hand for a wafer.
^ If your letter contain any important information/'
observed Sigmund, ^ I recommend your using sealing-
wax.''
^ Do you think it will make any difference ?" asked
Frank : is there any chance of a letter from me to Pal-
lersberg escaping inspection just now?"
"Not much if you use a wafer," answered Sigmund;
"for of course there are people here who think yon have
eyes and ears, and may mention what you have seen
and heard to a friend, especially if he be a miUtaiy
man."
Frank lit a taper and scaled his letter.
At the door he met Hilda, and, forgetful of " appear-
ances" and Sigmund's presence, he first formally wished
her good-morning, and then hoped she was satisfied with
Doris's explanation and would have no objection to see
Uadame de Bereny.
Her look of astonishment induced him to add, ' Gh
I perceive you have not yet seen Doris : pray go to her,
and let me speak to you when I return from the post."
A BETOST VNOOUBTBOUS.
He left the room without waiting for an answer^ and
Hilda, under the influence of anxiety and curiosity, was
hurrying towards the door of her mother's room with-
out noticing Sigmund, when he called out, ' Come, Hilda,
if your husband thinks it necessary to be so immensely
respectfhl when saying good-morning, I scarcely know
what kind of obeisance will suit my more distant rela-
tionship/'
' Frank does not break&st with us,'' she said, as if in
apology ; but he has evidently desired Doris to explain
something to me, and therefore you must amuse your-
self as you best can until our discussion is over."
'* It seems," observed Sigmund, " that Doris is the me*
dinm of communication between you and your husband :
when I came here just now he was probably giving her
a message for you. But why doesn't he speak to you
himself^ instead of desiring her to inform you that Ma-
dame de Bereny has followed him to Innsbrack ?"
Hilda changed color, and breathed quickly, while she
compelled herself with forced composure to ask if he
were quite sure that "that was what Doris had to tell
her."
" There can be no doubt of it," he answered, ^as Ma-
dame de Bereny's name was distinctly mentioned, and
Frank asked if you were satisfied with Doris's expla-
nation."
" There is nothing to be explained," said Hilda, walk-
ing to the window, and pretending to look out in order
to conceal her agitation. " It is very evident that if he
could speak to Doris on the subject, Madame de Bereny
must be altogether to blame I"
" Nothing more likely," said Sigmund : *^ I have no
doubt he is uncommonly bored by her coming here just
now, and may even have told her so in his peculiariy
25
290 AT ODDS.
candid manner when he went to see her at the hotel
last night."
" Yoa forget/' said Hilda, " that last night we were
all together in this room/'
Yes, until eleven o'clock ; hut where were we at mid-
night?"
^'Sigmund, that is not that cannot he true."
' Well, perhaps not, Hilda : at all events, I am sorry I
said any thing, as most probably Frank pleaded some -
other engagement to you."
^' No," she said, regaining her self-possession : ^' I know
nothing of his engagements. There is but little confi-
dence between us, as yet."
"So I perceive," observed Sigmund, seating himself
at the writing-table and turning over the leaves of the
blotting-paper.
" Some explanation, however, is absolutely necessary
now," she continued, coming towards him and leaning
on the back of his chair.
" Then I think," he replied, " you had better apply to
Doris, who is authorized to give it." \
'* But," said Hilda, " an explanation given by her, and
mixed with excuses for Frank, will put me out of all
patience : she is absolutely blind to his &ults 1"
"Indeed?"
" Yes, and mamma also : at least when either of them
speak to me of him. Now, you "
"I," said Sigmund, "have never been blind to his
faults. I think him a wild, good-for-nothing fellow, an
insolent coxcomb, who thinks, where women are con-
cerned, he has only to come, see, and conquer! Em-
meran tells me you have been trying to show him that
he is not quite so irresistible as he supposed ; but how
little you have succeeded you may see by reading what
he has written in your paper-book."
A BET0B9 UNOOimTSOUS. 291
He took it up and read with strong emphasis the fol-
lowing lines :
' The ' lost one' is as devotedly and passionately at-
tached as ever. The separation forgiven, and the in-
tense desire for reunion beyond my most sanguine
expectations."
" Frank wrote that in my book ?*' exclaimed HUda,
extending her hand for it.
'^ Kot exactly, not intentionally. The fiact iS; Hilda^
this is a letter to Pallersberg, written just before yoa
came into the room : the ink most have been quite wet
when pressed on the blotting-paper, for the writing is
perfectly legible on the other side."
Hilda drew back. I misunderstood you,'' she said,
reprovingly, and supposed Frank had written some-
thing for my book that he intended me to read. No
temptation would have induced me to look at what he
wrote to another person."
" Well, you have only listened to it," said Sigmund,
ironically; '^and I must explain that I should not have
endeavored to find out what he wrote to Pallersberg, had
I not expected to obtain some very important political
information couched in the metaphorical language which
we have heard the Tyroleans use on such occasions."
And then you intended to betray him V cried Hilda,
indignantly.
** I should not have betrayed him personally, because
he happens to be your husband, Hilda ; but I do not deny
that I intended to have made use of any information I
might have obtained in this way, well knowing that
Frank is good authority, and taking it for granted that
he would not write if he had not a question to aoswer.
It seems, hpwever, that I was mistaken : he is evidently
more occupied with you than with politics just now;
and, believe xue, I should not blame him in the least.
m AT
did I not lee liow ill ho requites the deTOtion' aad
^passionate attachment' of which he boasts with suoh
arrogance/'
Now, thoQgh Hilda's aflTeotion for her husband did not
waver for a moment, she felt herself just then in the
position of a neglected and injured wife, and that Frank
shonld have written so triumphantly to Pallersberg
mortified her beyond endurance. She therefore allowed
Sigmund to call her marriage a ^ sacrifice/' and listened
without interruption to his assurances that no act of his
life caused him so much regret as having aided in pro-
moting such a union.
There was far more truth in this last observation than
Hilda suspected, and Sigmund was becoming eager and
doquent on the subject, when Frank's return caused.^
sadden interruption.
Sigmund ceased qpeaking, but could not altogether
conceal his embarrassment; Hilda merely removed her
hand from her eyes, and then covered them again with-
out moving from the back of the chair on which she
had been leaning; while Frank, who had entered from
his aunt's apartment, and knew she had not yet seen
Doris, slowly advanced, and gravely requested permis-
sion to speak to her alone in the dining-room.
" Bather, allow me to leave you together," said Sig-
mund, rising. ^ I have not yet seen either my aunt or
Doris, and can take the opportunity of going to them."
Hilda, I have much to say to you," began Frank,
with unusual diffidence: will you not sit down?"
Hilda took the vacant chair at the writing-table, and,
as her eyes fell on the blotting-paper, she hardened her
heart, and regained perfect outward composure.
Frank advanced to the place where she had pre-
viously been standing, and, instantly following her
glance towards the table, saw with dismay the eountep*
A lUETO&X UKOOITBTSOUS. S0B'
port of hiis letter to PaUersberg, in thick, blotted, but
perfectly distiiict characters, exposed to view. The
blood mounted to his temples and swelled the veins
there while he exclaimed, indignantly, '^ I need not ask
who took advantage of my haste and carelessness to
ascertain what I wrote to Pallersberg! I could per-
haps have forgiven, even while contemning, such a
m^ns of obtaining what might be supposed important
political information ', but it was the act of a contempt-
ible scoundrel to show the writing to you and endeavor
to incense you against me I"
' I am not in the least incensed," said Hilda, calmly.
Then you might be, and with reason,'' said Frank,
" if I could not give you the solemn assurance that I
never thought of you when I wrote those lines.''
Hilda looked up amazed. ' May I read them f" she
asked, extending her hand towards the table, and draw- '
ing the book nearer.
Frank could not refuse, but felt instantly conscious
that he had spoken thoughtlessly.
Hilda seemed to weigh eveiy word, then placed her
hand on the writing, and asked, Of whom did you
think?"
Frank made no attempt to answer.
"Of Madame de Bereny, perhaps?"
" No, on my honor," he replied, in a tone of extreme
vexation.
"Excuse my supposing she might be this 'hat one/''
said Hilda, with bitter irony. "That she is 'ad id-
votedly and passionately attached as ever/ I have no
doubt. I even remember hearing that a partial separa-
tion or diminution of intimacy had taken place she
might have ^forgiven' this, you know; and certainly
nothing but a very ' intense desire for reunion' could
have induced her to follow you to Innsbruck !"
26*
SM At O1ID0.
^ She bM not Ibllowed me/' said Frank ; Miidame de
Bereny is on her way to Meran.''
''And/' continned Hilda, ^'do you think she wonld
have oome ta Innsbrnck now if yoa had not been
herer
"I have no reason to suppose she would not,'' he
answered. ''My leave of absence is almost expired,
and if she wished to see me here it was probably for
the purpose of obtaining through me an introduction to
you and my aunt."
" And you/' said Hilda, quickly, '^you have, of course,
explained the impossibility of proposing any thing of the
kind to me r
'Ko,'' said Frank. ^1 hoped, with Doris's assist-
ance, to persuade you to do a kind action ; it need not
be more than a formal interchange of visits ; and, if you
do not like her, you can avoid all intimacy."
' I shall avoid all intercourse with such a person,"
said Hilda, rising ; '' and I am surprised to hear that
Doris even listened to your proposal."
" I half expected this refusal/* rejoined Frank, " but
think, when you hear the consequences of a persistence
in it, you will yield a little. The Berenys have been bo
very kind and hospitable to me, Hilda, that it is incum-
bent on me to pay her every attention in my power.
She has brought me a letter from her husband, in which
he confides her to my care ; and, if you will not see and
know her, I must conceal the affirpnt by persuading her
to continue her journey to Meran without stopping
here."
^' Persuade her to go away, by all means/' said Hilda,
angrily : " the sooner the better I"
"In that case" continued Frank, "Colonel Bereny
has requested me to accompany her to Meran, and *!
shall do so."
A axTOBV 0ifooumnoi78. SM
*Do what you like, and go where you please,'^ cried
Hilda^ passionately, quoting his own words to her at
XJlm ; and, before she had time to repent her violence,
Frank had seized his hat and left the room.
He only wanted an excuse to go off with her I" said
Hilda, vehemently, when her mother, a few hours later,
read aloud a letter she had just received from Frank;
" and as to his advice that we should remove to Meran
before the month of April, Ijconsider it merely a
ruse to draw us into an acquaintance with that odious
woman."
^'Sather a warning well worth consideration," an
Bwered her mother. Frank has hitherto thought
himself unauthorized to interfere with your plans, but
in this letter he mentions expressly that some informa-
tion which he, has lately procured prompts the advice.
I think we might go to Meran, and easily avoid know-
ing Madame de Bereny."
" As if," said Hilda, " as if it were probable that you
and Doris would not then cheat me into conciliating
Frank by attention to her I"
^ There was a time when I might, have been tempted
to do so," said her mother; ^' but I am now convinced
that it was a great mistake my trpng to force a recon-
ciliation between you; and I shall never attempt any
thing of the kind again."
''Then, dear mamma, let us not think of leaving
Innsbruck until September, when change of air and
ripe grapes will be necessary for your health ; and in
the mean time we may hope that the heat of a Meran
eommer will disgust Madame de Bereny with the cli
2M AT ODDB.
idtte, aii4 indnee her to return to her husband before
we take up our abode there for the winter/'
Bmmeran was just then dining with his brother at
the hotel, and waiting in vain for the expected inform-
ation respecting Doris : he thought of nothing else; but
it was not until they were about to separate that he
asked Sigmund the result of his interview with her.
" The interview," he answered, smiling, '* turned out
an ordinary morning visit in presence of my aunt ; but
I did not wish it otherwise, as, in consequence of a con-
versation with Hilda, I had already determined to re-
consider the matter and observe carefully the state of
affairs here before I again committed myself/'
" A very wise resolution," observed Emmeran.
''I think it is," continued Sigmund, though not in
the sense you mean. Circumstances favor me singu-
larly, and now make the success of a previous and
better plan more than probable."
Am I to be made acquainted with it?" asked
Bmmeran,. without any great demonstration of in-
terest.
"I do not see why you should not," answered his
brother. " I have long discovered that the most foolish
act of my life was breaking off my engagement with
Hilda, and may as well tell you plainly that on having
ascertained that O'More had been upwards of three
years absent without keeping up any sort of communi-
cation with his wife and notoriously leading a very gay
life in Yienna, I came here for the purpose of advising
Hilda to obtain a divorce from him, and then intended
to urge her to fulfill her late father's and aunt's wishes
by consenting to a marriage with me."
"Sigmund, are you mad?"
"By no means: perfectly sane, I assure you. Men
and women marry from pique or to punish one another
A BSTOM imOOUKTSOUS. 29T
every day. Ton may, however, imagine my astOBish*
ment and disappointment when, on my arrivaly I found
the scapegrace himself here, and, though evidently
doing penance for his sins, apparently pretty certain of
absolution I When I left you last night, I had fully
resolved to take Doris "
^I suppose," said Emmeran, interrupting him, yoii
mean that you had some, perhaps unfounded, hope that
she might be induced to take you/'
^ As you please,'' said Sigmund, laughing; from such
a charming stoic as Doris a man can submit to a mode*
rate display of condescension. But, to make a long
story short, Emmeran, I consider my chances with
Hilda infinitely better than with Doris, for, besides the
remembrance of our former long engagement, her
father's wishes, and the injunction in her aunt's will, I
shall have her jealousy, resentment, and desire of re-
venge on my side. O'More has played &mously into
my hand during the last four-and-twenty hours, and has
just crowned his misdeeds by going off puhHcly with
Madame de Bereny I"
Impossible T' cried Emmeran, starting up; "this is
some mistake, some misunderstanding."
" None whatever," answered Sigmund; " I saw the fair
Hungarian descending the stairs leaning, or rather
hanging, on his arm : she seems one of those women
who are bewitchingly helpless when men like O'More
oome in their way ; she allowed him absolutely to lift
her into the carriage, after which he handed in the
femme de chambre as if she had been a maid of honor,
you know that's his way, and then, for propriety's sake,
I suppose, seemed very much inclined to mount the box,
or otherwise dispose of himself outside, until a small
very white hand was extended that drew him like a
loadstone into the interior; and off they went I"
2W AT OVOB. \
*' And who/^ asked Emmeran, nneadlj, ' who is to tell
this to HUdar'
"She knows it already/' answered Sigmnnd, ^'bnt I
have hot heard how she bears it, for I only saw Doris/'
'^ And what did Doris say?" asked Emmeran.
She informed me, with the most perfect composnre^
that Frank had received a letter from Colonel Bereny
requesting him to take his wife to Meran and establish
her in comfortable lodgings there; and then she added
that she feared they had scarcely a chance of seeing
him again for some* time, as his leave of absence had so
nearly expired.''
"Oh, then it's all right," said Emmeran; "and Hilda
has been made to understand that Frank could not well
refuse to escort the wife of his colonel to Meran if re-
quested to do so."
" You may believe that if you like," rejoined Sigmund,
smiling ironically, "but I know better what Hilda
thinks and feels on this subject. She allowed me to
i^eak in very strong terms of this husband of hers to-
day, and, had he not interrupted us, I should have
pointed out how easily her marriage in ITlm could be
annulled, and recommended her to think seriously of a
separation; but it was as well I said nothing, for you,
who have studied law during some of the best years of
your life, can explain to her all about Protestant divorces
&r better than I can. Give me your assistance on this
occasion, Emmeran, and I cease at once to be your rival
with Doris."
" I don't at all fear your rivalry," answered Emmeran,
imperturbably. "I know and xmderstand Doris so
thoroughly, that the moment you told me she had re-
vised you at Westenried I felt convinced she would do
so here also; for what has since occurred to make her
change her opinion of you? Of Hilda I am not sure:
A RITOBT UNOOUKTBOUS. 209
-violent lore is said to turn into violent hartred some-
times, andy though it is difficult to imagine such a
thing ''
^'Oh, not at all/' enqd Sigmund, interrupting him; ^'I
can understand the change perfectly; and Hilda has been
deserted and neglected with an ostentation very likely
to irritate a proud and passionate girl beyond endurance.
I tell yoU; Emmeran^ I only require time to make her
discard him!''
"Don't be too sure of that, Sigmund."
"I shall not be precipitate, if that be what you mean/'
answered Sigmund, '^ for the sacrifice of a few weeks or
even months, if necessary ^is not too much on this oc-
casion; and, in fact, I am rather at a loss to know what
to do with myself just at present."
'I should have supposed/' said Emmeran^ "that there
was a good deal of occupation for you at Westenried
after so long an absence."
"I cannot deny that/' said Sigmund; "but I hate the
place, and nothing is in order there since the Pallers-
bergs left it. By-the-by, I was excessively annoyed at
Hilda's establishing them at Forsteck after the insolent
letter they wrote to me; and one of my first acts when
L marry her will be to send them an order to decamp."
"You will not find it easy to obtain Hilda's consent
to that," said Emmeran, half laughing; "she is in con-
stant correspondence with Fallersberg, and now under-
stands the management of her affairs perfectly. Talk
to her of her rights and rents, her woods, fields, and
cattle, and you will be rather astonished, I suspect."
"Bather say disgusted/' cried Sigmund; "but I shall
soon put an end to all interference on her part; and the
very first thing will be to get rid of those detestable
Pallersbergs."
"I advise you/' said Emmeran, dryly, "to defer pro-
800 AT ODM.
olaimiDg this not veiy laiidaM6 inteniitm of youns
until ''
'XTntawhatr aaked Sigmmid.
Until the Waldering flag wayet above the roof of
Vonteokr
CHAPTBE XXX.
THE FATAL "NO."
Some weeks elapsed before Frank wrote again. When
he did so, the letter was from Yienna, addressed to
Doris, and urged, in the strongest terms, a removal of
the family to Meran, if that place were necessary for
his aont's health, but, if not, to Forsteck or Ulm, where,
as the fortifications had been destroyed, there was no
danger of the town being again subjected to a siege, oe
their being incommoded in case of a war, excepting,
perhaps, occasionally by the passage of troops.
This letter Doris had instantly taken to her mother's
room and left with her and Hilda for discussion, pur-
posely returning to her tapestiy-fWime, near one of the
windows in the drawing-room, in order to avoid giving
her opinion or advice. Hilda, however, soon followed
her, and, throwing down the letter, observed, with evi-
dent pique, ^ As Frank has chosen you for correspond-
ent, I must beg you to let him know that I do not see
any necessity for leaving Innsbruck, even in case of a
war, unless he can give less vague reasons for his advice.
The passage of troops will not annoy us here more than
at TTlm, and, Innsbruck being also unfortified, we need
have no appr^ension of a siege : if, however, you and
801
mamma tbink otherwise, there is nothing to prevent
ytm from going to Meran whenever you please.''
"Hilda," said Doris, "you know perfectly well that
, we cannot leave you here alone.''
Why not ?" she asked. " Am I a child still ? Surely
when a woman has been married as long as I have, she
may be supposed able to take care of herself. I am
sure Frank thinks so, and if you write to him will care
very little about my refusal to comply with his request ;
he will be only too happy to hear from you, at all events,
and has evidently for this purpose chosen you as the
permanent medium of communication between us."
"I decline the offer," said Doris, in a low voice, as she
bent over her work.
'But you cannot refuse to answer such a letter as
this?"
" Scarcely," answered Doris.
"I thought so," cried Hilda: "that entreating post-
script for a few words from your * dear hand' is irresist-
ible, and the * darling cousin' will * resume her office of
Mentor.' "
"Hilda, what do you mean?" asked Doris, looking up
alarmed.
"I niean," she answered, with suppressed vehemence,
*^ I mean that it is evident Prank loves you still and
cares not at all for me I I mean that I would give years
of my life for such a letter from him!"
" Years of your life," repeated Doris, " but not a few
hours to Madame de Bereny I"
" It was indeed folly to refrise that request," said Hilda,
" for it only served to show him what a much more desira-
ble and compliant wife you would have made him than
I can."
"Am I to understand that you object to my answer-
ing his letter?" asked Dcaris, rising.
26
802 AT ODDB.
' Object r' ezolaimed Hilda, passionately: how can I
object when I have no other means of hearing of him?
Rather tell him to write often and regularly/'
^^No, Hilda; Frank shall never cause disunion between
us if I can prevent it. My letter will forbid his writing
to me again, and contain a request that he will either
correspond in future with my mother, or desire his friend
Pallersberg to do so more frequently/'
Doris, I cannot consent to any such arrangements:
you know Major Pallersberg writes chiefly about politics
and literature, and only mentions Frank in the most
cursory manner."
* With that you must be satisfied for the present," an-
swered Doris, seating herself at the writing-table.
"Wait ^ moment," said Hilda, imploringly, while she
laid her hand on her sister's shoulder; ^'you understand,
dear Doris, that I do not blame you in the least for what
has happened ^"
"I blame myself," answered Doris, turning round
with a flush of anger on her cheek ; " I blame myself for
having ever, ever interfered I How can I justify so mis-
using my influence over Frank at XJlm? K I thought
it necessary, I might have resigned ^but I had no right
whatever to dispose of him for life, ^irrevocably!"
"Not irrevocably," cried Hilda, greatly .agitated;
"write to him, Doris; tell him that I now consent to,
and even desire, the divorce he proposed at XTlm. Sig-
mund says it can be obtained without any difficulty, and
has offered to manage every thing for me."
"Is it possible you have consulted Sigmund?"
" No; but he has contrived to discover all we intended
to conceal from him ; I knew he would when he came
here; and, if I must take his advice, I suppose I had
better employ him."
"Do neither the one nor the other, Hilda; depend
THE FATAL 'N0/' 808
upon it| he has some hidden motive for his interferenoe;
And, though I do not in the least doubt his statement
that you can have your marriage annulled according to
German law, I am much mistaken if divorces can be
so easily obtained in England, and you would scarcely
desire to be free yourself while Frank continued bound
to you."
"No! oh, no I quite the contrary I" cried Hilda; "my
sole wish was to restore him to complete freedom : if,
however, this cannot be effected," she continued, "lean
only promise to endeavor in every way to conciliate
him when we meet again."
" Why not begin at once V* asked Doris. " Take his
advice about Meran, and go there next week, as he
proposes."
"No, Doris: that would be too humiliating: you
cannot expect me to follow and seek the acquaintance
of the artful woman who has caused him to desert me
in so open and scandalous a manner."
*' I thought," said Doris, "you told me you had youi
self dismissed him in the very words he used to you at
Ulm?"
"Well, so I did."
" And if," said Doris, " if he now choose ' to go where
he pleases and to do what he likes,' who can blame him?"
"Not you, at all events," cried Hilda, petulantly;
" you think him faultless, and are ever ready to throw
the blame of our disagreements on me. Doris I" she
added, stopping for a moment at the door, towards
which she had walked while speaking, " Doris, that was
an ill-starred day on which you resigned him to me I"
" Ill-starred indeed 1" repeated Doris, as her sister
left the room, and then, leaning over the writing-table
and supporting her head with her hand, she allowed
bitter regret for the first time to mix itself with the
804 AT ODD8.
painfU retrospect that drew large, reluctant tears to
her eyes. " Se, at least, has never reproached me," she
murmured ; ^^ and yet he might well have done so lately,
instead of asking me to plead his cause with this passion-
ate and jealous sister of mine. I must not, however,
despair or become weary of making efforts to reconcile
them to each other : it is the only atonement I can ever
make him.''
She drew a sheet of paper towards 'her, and wrote,
''Dear Frank/' ^then paused to think how she could
beet soften Hilda's refusal to leave Innsbruck, ^looked
up, and perceived Emmeran advancing towards her
firom her mother's room.
' I am the bearer of a message from Hilda," he said,
earnestly ; '^ she begs you will forgive all she said just
now, and desire Frank to write to you as often as he
can or will."
Poris shook her head
^'I am afraid she has been very unreasonable and
unkind," he continued ; '^ but she seemed really penitent,
and told me your patience with her was perfectly incom-
prehensible."
" Her words were less so," said Doris, " and my cor-
respondence with Frank must end in this letter."
"I warned her not to employ me as emissary," ob-
served Emmeran ; " for any one and every one can say
' no' to me without difficulty. I am quite accustomed
to the odious little word, and now never expect to hear
any thing else when I make a request."
"To others, perhaps," said Doris, smiling; "but not
to me, for I cannot remember having often said / no' to
you, Emmeran."
" Many and many a time," he answered ; " but you
have forgotten your refusals because they were of no
importance to you. I can, however, recollect a 'no'
THE FATAL "NO." M6
of some years since that made a &tal impression on
me/'
" You excite my curiosity," she said, pushing away
her writing-paper: "where did I pronounce this &tal
'no'?"
"AtWestenried."
But when?"
" On the last Holy Eve we spent there."
*' Don't remind me of that dreadful evening,"
' It was before it had become dreadful/' said Emme*
ran^ " that I asked you to let me look in your magic
mirror, or whatever you called it, and you refused at
once, without a moment's hesitation."
" I believe/' said Doris, " I should do the same now,
and for the same reason."
" Of course you would," answered Emmeran, gravely.
"It is only during occasional moments of infatuation
that I ever suppose any thing else possible."
She did not appear to hear him, but continued,
musingly, ". You know, Emmeran, at that time the re-
collection of what Hilda imagined she had seen in
the vaults a year previously, and the curious circum-
stance of the ring found there being required for her
marriage, had made an unpleasant impression on us all ;
but I believe you never heard that Mina, when alarmed
by the flickering of the blue lights, fancied she saw her
own corpse beneath the water of the lake. Now, though,
as well as I can recall her words, the idea had presented
itself to her often before, and I am quite convinced that
the subsequent events would have occurred whether we
had looked in the glass or not, yet you can understand
my dislike to every thing of the kind in future."
"Perfectly," answered Emmeran. "No one is free
Arom a certain portion of superstition ; it lies deep in the
mind of all, and is at best but dormant in that of the
26*
806 AT ODDS.
most Ttttional. At Westenried, however, I thought, airf
indeed still think, that the chief cause of your refusal
was a suspicion that I might attempt to place the glass
o that I should have seen your face reflected in it, and
perhaps have even cheated you into seeing mine I"
Doris did not choose to understand. ^'I have no
douht/' she said, smiling, that your plan to turn my
pretended witchcraft into ridicule was well devised ; but
I had had more than enough of blue lights and vaults,
and believe that even seeing your well-known face and
smart new uniform under such circumstances would
have been any thing rather than agreeable to me/'
"I believe you," said Emmeran, "and can even re-
collect that ^en we met at dinner on that memorable
day you did not bestow a single glance on the smart
new uniform, though I had the folly to expect and wish
you to do so."
"You are jesting, of course?" said Doris.
'* Not at all, I assure you."
Doris shook her head, and laughed incredulously. "I
have since then had opportunities enough of becoming
aequainted with your uniform," she said, ' and can only
hope you will pardon my saying that I prefer seeing
you in any other dress."
"Indeed !" he exclaimed, with a look of such surprise
and disappointment that she added,
"I mean you look better in a morning or evening
coat, or even a shooting-jacket. Tou know you were
never intended for a soldier, and it is very evident that
the uniform bores and the accouterments embarrass
youl"
Veiy true," he answered; "but I thou^t you had
a great predilection for military trappings; that is," he
added, on perceiving her look of astonishment, "I sup-
posed you liked the profession of which they are ihe out-
THX 9ATAL N0. SOT
urmrd sign ; and in faet, Dori% I should never bare en-
tered the army if I had not thought it the best or per*
haps only means of finding favor in your eyes.'"
^ Nonsense^ Emmeran ! you cannot make me believe
that you gave up your former pursuits and changed all-
your habits and occupations on my account V
" Yet I did so, and without regret as yet, Doris ; for
has not chance so favored me that I have enjoyed your
society for more than two years without interruption ?"
Doris began to perceive that there was something
more than " habit" in Emmeran's regard for her ; she
even felt a sort of certainty that he was devoted to her
in a manner that onght not to be trifled with. ''A poor
recompense, Emmeran, for such a loss of time," she said,
a good deal embarrassed; "and I now scarcely know-
whether I ought or ought not to give you the assurance
that I have no sort of predilection for the army as a
profession, nor for soldiers in general."
" Nor," he observed, " nor will you care to hear that
I shall probably return to my former occupation as soon
as the war is over, for I am now convinced that my
time has indeed been lost, I must, however, say agree-
ably lost, here ; and, though I may not, as you say, be
soldierlike, I am at least so much of a soldier at heart
that, instead of remaining, longer in garrison here, I shall
endeavor to exchange into another regiment in which
I am more likely to see something of active service."
" I hope you will not do any such thing," cried Doris,
hastily, and feeling at the moment very strongly how
necessary ' habit" had made Emmeran's society to her;
"we shall miss you dreadihlly."
"Very flattering for me if you do," he answered,
' and I am even selfish enough to hope it may be the
ease. But while talking of myself I have forgotten
to plead for Hilda: do, pray, grant her request, and
808 AT 0DD8.
oontiDve ^onr oorrespondenoe with Frank; let her hear
of if she cannot expect to hear from him/'
Dear Emmeran, I am really sorry to be obliged to
reAise this request, but assure you I have reasons that
make my correspondence with Frank quite out of the
question. Ask any thing else "
But Emmeran turned away in the direction of her
mother's room, saying, with a faint smile, that he had
had refusals enough for one day, and would now leave
her to write her letter.
CHAPTBE XXXI.
MO ONE KNOWS WHAT A DAY MAY BKINO FORTH.
Before many days of the month of April had passed
over, Hilda began to understand the purport of Frank's
letter, and to wish she had been less determined in
refusing to follow his advice. Although none but the
initiated were aware of the powerful conspiracy formed
by the Tyroleans to shake ofiF a foreign yoke and return
to their allegiance to their emperor, many circumstances
had occurred to lead to the supposition that when the
expected declaration of war became public, the peasants
would take up arms and join any Austrian force sent
into the country.
One evening, as the Walderings were returning from
a walk to Mount Isel, they perceived several groups of
people standing on the banks of the Inn, eagerly watch-
ing the progress of a strong plank that floated past on
the surface of the water.
Sigmund and Hilda stopped and looked in the same
direction.
WHAT A DAT MAT BRING FORTH. 800
'I had no idea/^ observed the former; shragging his
shoulders, ''that a plank swimming on the river Inn
was so unusual a circumstance/'
'^ It is not the plank/' said Hilda : ' it is the flag-staff
on it with the red streamer that attracts attention."
"And," suggested Sigmund, "which will no doubt
furnish the superstitious people here with a * pendent to
the story you have just been telling me about the bloody
hand portentous of war that was lately seen on the
freshly-scoured table of the inn in Sarnthal.''
"But/' said Hilda, "you will find it more difficult to
give a satisfactory explanation of the red flag than the
red hand. I know the hostlers of the country-inns are
frequently butchers, and the one at Samthal may have
leaned on the table when fresh from the slaughter-house;
but the carpenter who placed the flag on that plank had
certainly some hidden meaning/'
" !N'ot," answered Sigmund, " not if he Were a juvenile
workman, who, we may suppose, found a strip of red
calico, or, it maybe, a handkerchief of his grandfather's,
and, having nailed it either on the stick or crutch of that
worthy relative, only required a strong board to com-
plete the construction of the primitive plaything des-
tined to excite the curiosity, fears, and hopes of the
inhabitants of Innsbruck."
Hilda shook her head. " I cannot help thinking that
Frank would have given a very different explanation of
that floating flag," she said, walking on to join her
mother.
" He would most probably have declined giving any
at all, if the thing really have a meaning," muttered
Sigmund ; and, while speaking, his eye fell on a peasant-
woman who had been standing close beside them.
"The less said, the better/' observed the woman^
turning towards him for a moment with a look of mys-
810 AT 0DD8.
terions meaning, and at the same time thrusting a slip
of paper into his hand.
Sigmond opened and read the words, ^It is time/'
The thought instantly presented itself that he had been
mistaken for Frank, and, hoping to obtain some informa-
tion by continuing to personate him, he looked round,
intending to commence a conversation ; but the woman
was gone, and no one in the least resembling her within
sight. A peasant stood alone at no great distance, stUl
gazing after the now scarcely perceptible red flag, and
Sigmund, approaching him, repeated in a low voice the
words he had just heard, ^ The less said, the better/'
The man turned from the river, and seemed Very
naturally to expect to hear more.
^^It is time" continued Sigmund, emphatically.
^ Time for what V asked the peasant, casting a look
of provoking intelligence first on the paper and then on
Sigmund, who instantly perceived that a reply was ex-
pected which he could not give, and while he pretended
to examine the paper he held in his hand, supposing he
should find some other notice on it, the man continued,
with a shrewd smile and a glance westward, " By my
watch and the setting sun it is six o'clock, and
supper-time for most people."
" It will not be six o'clock until to-morrow morning/'
answered Sigmund, putting the paper into his pocket
and walking off, unconscious that his reply had pro-
duced a change in the expression of the peasant's face,
followed by a few hasty steps after him, that were, how-
ever, suddenly arrested when he perceived Sigmund join
his brother and cousins and unhesitatingly exhibit the
paper containing the three mysterious words.
Sigmund never knew that the peasant he had ad-
dressed was Joseph Speckbaoher, " The Man of Einn,"
as he has since been poetically called by his biographer.
WHAT A DAY BIAT VBXSQ FOBTH. Sll
and at that time the person in all Tyrol most capable
of giving the information he required. Speokbacher
was just then endeavoring to ascertain the strength of
the Innsbrack garrison, and to him the floating flag on
the river, and the words " It is time," were full of mean-
ing : they told him to hasten the preparations for the
insurrection, to give notice to the inhabitants of the
valley of the Inn, and encouraged him to concert with
his followers the plan of taking the town of Hall by
surprise, which he afterwards put into execution vntik
equal subtlety and celerity.
The movements of the Man of Einn were, however^
only indirectly of importance to the Walderings, though
their first serious apprehensions were occasioned by the
signal-fires which he soon after caused to be lighted on
the surrounding mountains.
One of the most remarkable circumstances in this
insurrection was the inviolable secrecy observed by the
thousands of initiated. The innkeepers, commencing with
Andrew Hofer himself, were almost all deeply impli-
cated ; their houses, during the frequent target-shooting
matches, served as places of assembly for the peasants,
their cellars were used for the concealment of ammuni-
tion, and all injudicious outbursts of patriotism or mani-
festations of disaffection to the ruling powers, which
were of not unfrequent occurrence in such places, were
alike supposed to be the effects of the Tyrolean wine,
which, at that time, the peasants drank in amazing
quantities.
At length the long-expected declaration of war on
the part of Austria was made known in Innsbruck by
the distribution of innumerable proclamations, printed
in Yienna, and smuggled in some unaccountable manner
into the country. Fires then blazed at nightfall on the
highest mountains, the alarm-bells of the neighboring
812 AT ODDS.
Tillages pealed without intermission, and crowds of
peasants, assembling on the roads and on the heights
ronnd Innsbmck, saccessfally forced the Bavarian
pickets fWm the Martin'swand, Gallwiese, and Mount
Isel into the town. Greneral Kinkel and Colonel Diet-
ftart posted cannon on the bridges, and took every pos-
sible means with their limited garrison to qnell the^
revolt; bnt, with the exception of some wealthy Jews
and a few bnrghers, they had no friends in the town,
and found it impossible to prevent constant communica-
tion with the insurgents.
Sigmund entered his aunt's apartment late on the
evening of this day: he brought a musket, a sword, and
a brace of pistols with him, and declared his intention
of remaining in their drawing-room during the night,
as it WM impossible to tell what might occur. The
central position of their house enabled Emmeran to look
in occasionally and tell them what was going on, but
after daylight they saw him no more, and Sigmund was
at length sent out to procure information.
It was still early when he returned in a state of great
excitement, and informed them that thousands of pea-
sants were swarming in all directions towards the town,
and that the Bavarian cannoneers had been little else
than targets for the Tyrolean riflemen, who aimed at
them deliberately, as if at a shooting-match. ^' The
rebels," he continued, "have got possession of the
bridges, and are now forcing their way through the
triumphal arch and every other entrance to the town;
our men are fighting like lions, but they must be over-
powered by such numbers."
" Is there no one," cried Doris, " to explain this to
General Kinkel ? Surely in a case of this kind any gar-
rison may capitulate without disgrace."
" Dietfurt will not listen to any terms," answered Sig-
WHAT A DAT MAT BBING FOBTH. 818
fiuuid, *' and was fbrious because Kinkel proposed eva*
caating the town if allowed to retreat unmolested*
Some well-disposed citizens made their appearance near
one of the bridges and attempted to procure at least a
short cessation of hostilities; but the peasants have no
respect for flags of truce. They rushed down the Hot-
ting hill, took the bridge and cannon by storm, disarmed
our men, and chased the citizens before them into the
town."
' And was no further effort made ?" asked Doris.
"Yes," he answered: "in the Town-House, where I
have just been, I hoped they might come to terms; but
the insurgents insist on the garrison laying down their
arms, and that, of course, is not to be thought of for an
instant. If you have no objection to my leaving you,''
h.e continued, buckling on the sword and filling his
pockets with ammunition, "I should like to join Diet-
furt and have a shot at these traitors."
" If you go," said Doris, " I hope it will be to Emme-
ran. Think how dreadfully revolting such scenes and
deeds must be to him : he ought never to have been
a soldier !"
At that moment they heard cavalry galloping through
the street, and Sigmund rushed to the window: he
turned round, however, directly, for the steady tread and
regular platoon-fire of infantry became audible in an-
other direction.
" We are in the thick of it," he cried, throwing open
the doors leading to the back of the house; "our men
must be marching towards the hospital."
They all followed, and required no explanation to
make them understand that the peasants had obtained
possession of the hospital, and were firing from the win-
dows, and rushing tumultuously from the gateway to
attack the advancing troops.
27
814 AT OBD8.
4
A desperate conflict ensaed, almoet beneath their win*
dows; for the back of the house was only separated from
the road by a small court-yard containing a pump and
some sheds lor wood. They could see distinctly the
fiices of the combatants; and how well known to them
were those of the officers who now courageously led on
their men to so hopeless an attack, Colonel Dietfurt the
foremost of all, apparently in a state of frenzy!
The terrified spectators at the windows of the Wal-
dering apartments soon saw, and followed with harrow-
ing interest, but one actor in this frightful scene : it
was Emmeran, ^not the quiet, thoughtful, low-voiced
man they had hitherto known, whose accouterments
were generally such evident incombrances to him. The
sword he so gladly put aside whenever an opportunity
offered was now brandished above his head, his eyes
flashed, and Dietfurt himself was not more daringly reck-
less, more passionately eloquent in urging his men to
charge. Though wounded, he still continued to advance,
until a ball in the side made him sink on one knee, while
a stream of blood poured from his lips; but, when some
peasants approached to take him prisoner, he started
again to his feet and continued the combat until, over-
powered by numbers and weakness, he sank on the
ground.
By this time Sigmund, who had rushed from the room
and sprang down the stairs, was already in the court, impe-
tuously opening the small door of communication with
the road; the others followed in wild alarm, and Doris
would perhaps have pressed after him among the com-
batants, had he not almost immediately reappeared, hold-
ing in his arms the apparently lifeless body of hia
brother.
" Shut the yard-door !" shouted the proprietor of the
house, who was leaning out of one of the upper windows;
WHAT A DAT BfAT BBINO rOBTH. 816
" shut the door, or we shall have the peasants in hero
firing from the windows of our rooms."
His words seemed about to be verified, for a number
of men pressed hard upon Sigmund, whose arms, how*
ever, were no sooner at liberty than he drew his sword,
turned upon them, and, forcing Ihem back, pursued
them into the midst of the combat. The yard-door was
instantly closed by eager hiinds ; but Hilda sprang for-
ward and again threw it wide open, exclaiming, reso-
lutely, " I will not have him shut out ! let him return
to UB."
And, even while she was speaking, Sigmund staggered
back and fell senseless at her feet.
Then the door was firmly bolted; and the clashing
of swords and loud report of firearms continued with-
out, while the terrified inmates of the yard made vain
attempts to restore the wounded brothers to conscious-
ness.
"He is dead, quite dead, Hilda!" said the Countess
Waldering, as she raised the hair from Sigmund's fore-
head and pointed to a double wound there; "it is use-
less trying to revive him." And she turned to Emmeran,
who showed some signs of returning life.
Doris was sitting on the ground, supporting Emmeran's
head on her knee, and bathing his temples with cold
water from a tub that had been placed near her. His
uniform was covered with blood, and so was his sword,
which he still grasped tightly, struggling convulsively
whenever any one attempted to take it from him, and
causing a fresh loss of blood that immediately produced
renewed faintness.
"Oh, leave it in his hand!" said Doris, "and send
some one to the next house ; perhaps the surgeon who
lives there is at home, and could come to us."
" I cannot allow the house-door to be opened just yet,"
816 AT OBDS.
0id the landlord, who was now standing beside her:
'^ the street is too foil of riflemen."
'' Tou have nothing to fear from them, Mr. Hartmann/'
interposed Doris, indignantly.
"No, mademoiselle, for myself nothing, but for my
cellar every thing. I can, however, send up to the roof
of the fiouse, and have no doubt that most of our neigh-
bors are assembled on the leads there ; it is not even
improbable that we may find the surgeon himself among
them ; and I must say, when things take this turn, it is
a far better and safer place up there than in a yard such
as this."
' Hilda," said Doris, with an expressive glance up-
wards, ** he will come instantly if you go yourself for
him."
Hilda immediately ran into the house, followed by
Mr. Hartmann, who begged her to wait for him, as she
could not possibly open the door on the roof alone;
while his wife, coming forward with an embarrassed
air, "hoped that Count Emmeran's uniform would be
taken off as soon as possible, as it might place her and
her husband in a very unpleasant position : the blood-
stained sword alone," she said, " would be sufficient to
provoke the peasants to plunder her house should they
now force their way into it."
Doris thought this exaggeration ; but she bent dom
her head and whispered, "Give me your sword, dear
Emmeran."
He evidently not only had heard, but also under-
stood, what had been said, for he slowly opened his
eyes, and, when he perceived her hand extended towards
the offending weapon, his fingers relaxed their grasp of
it, and clasped instead the small cold hand that disarmed
him, and which he feebly raised and pressed on the
UP WITH THE EAQLe! 817
wound in his side; from which the blood still flowed
profusely.
" Thank goodness," said her mother, " he can see and
hear again : so, though perhaps too weak to move, 1
think if I were to send down a mattress he might be
carried up to Frank's room even before Surgeon Man-
hart comes here."
"I think so too," answered Doris; "and the sooner
we remove him from this place the better."
Her mother left the yard, followed by the assembled
servants and other inmates of the house ; and Emmeran
instantly seemed aware that they were alone. "Doris,"
he said, in a scarcely audible voice, and she bent down
her head towards him, " Doris ! 1 fear all is lost
I saw Dietfurt fall, and " Here he stopped, and she
perceived the paleness of death again spread over his
features as his eyes fell on the outstretched rigid form
of his brother. With great effort he raised himself on
his elbow, and panted, "Go to him, Doris do not
neglect him for me ^I I am quite well now, and
he may be only badly wounded poor fellow ''
A violent attempt to rise from his recumbent position
produced a return of weakness, followed by a swoon,
from which he only completely recovered when the
surgeon began to probe his wounds.
CHAPTER XXXII.
UP WITH THE EAGLE I
Women are frequently violent politicians in words,
but fortunately very seldom in deeds; and therefore it
will scarcely sui'prise the reader to hear that Doris's
27*
tl8 /LT 0DD8. /
IbeliDg of exaltation at the complete saccess of the
Tyrolean insarrection was almost turned into depression
when, added to Sigmnnd's death and Emmeran's dan-
gerous wounds, she heard of the number of Bavarians
who had lost their lives in the course of a few hoars.
That most of the officers who had j&Uenwere personally
known to her only served to 'increase her dejection; and
it was remarkable that Hilda listened at first with more
interest than Doris could to the details given by their
landlady of the street-combats and other events that
had taken place.
Before eleven o'clock/' said Madame Hartmanu;
pertinaciously addressing Doris in expectation of com-
plete sympathy, ^** before eleven o'clock the enemy
were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners !"
' And Colonel DietfurtT' asked Hilda: is there any
hope of his recovery?"
" People say his wounds are not absolutely mortal /'
answered Madame Hartmann; " but he has got a fever,
and is delirious: they took him to the hospital, and are
obliged to keep him in his bed by force : it is curious
that when he saw the wounded peasants there he im-
mediately asked them who had been their leader; and
though they assured him they had had none, he said
that he knew better, and had seen him mounted on a
white horse several times during the combat."
" Delirium, of course !" observed Hilda.
"I suppose so," said Madame Hartmann; "but the
people imagine it must have been St. Jacob, the patron
saint of Innsbruck,^ and they now suppose themselves
quite invincible ! Hartmann says it would be a very
good thing if they had a visible commander, and he
Fact.
UP WITH TBI saole! 819
tbinlfB they wQl chose Hofer, or Speckbaoher, or per-
haps Teimer."
' Who is Teimer ?" asked Hilda.
'' Ofie likely to be of importance in times like these/'
she answered; ^'and fortunately both he and Baron
Hormayer were at the university with Hartmann, and
are friends of his, which secures us a conple of powerful
protectors in case of need. Teimer gave np his studies
to enter the militia, and has seen a good deal of service
one way or other : they say he is also an emissary of
the Archduke's and a friend of Andrew Hofer's. I had
no wish to have him in my house the last time he was
in Innsbruck/' she added, laughing; "but he would be
a very welcome guest just now."
"I don't think/' said Hilda, "that under these dr-
eumstances Mr. Hartmann need have had any appro*
hension -about his cellars, or you about the presence of
our poor wounded cousin. But what may those expect
who have no friends to defend themf the Bavarian
families residing here, for instance f"
"Well, I don't think they need be uneasy," she an-
swered. ''From the peasants they have nothing to
lbar,though I cannot answer for the mob of the town,
you know. I believe some parties of them have already
commenced plundering the warehouses of the Jews on
pretence of recovering the plate and altar-ornaments
of the secularized monasteries ; and there is no denying
that the cellars of the wine-merchants are all more or
less in danger: so we can only hope that Marshal
Chasteler and the Austrians will soon be here, as thou-
sands and thousands of peasants are still marching into
the town, and no one knows where they will take up
their quarters."
Just then her husband came home, and informed the
hastily-assembled inmates of the house that his friend
820 AT ODDS.
Major Teimer htA arrived in Innsbruck and, as impmal
commissioner, taken the command of the town.
' I hope, Hartmann, yoit asked him to come and stay
with as?" said his wife, in a sadden paroxysm of hospi-
tality.
"Of coarse; bat he has so mach to do trying to pre-
serve order, that we have little chance of seeing him
for some time^ There are the woanded on both sides
to be taken care of, the prisoners and Bavarian fdno-
tionaries to be protected, ^in short, so many arrange-
ments to be made, that it was quite a relief to him
when the peasants were indaced to go in search of a
wooden eagle that has been discovered in the Francis-,
can charch, and afterwards amased themselves shoating,
* Long live oar Emperor Franz V "
"And Marshal Chasteler, Hartmann, and the Aas-
trians ? when may we expect to see them V
We hoped they v^oald have been here this even-
ing,'' he answered, with some embarrassment ; " bat
bat "
'^Has any thing happened?" asked his wife, anz-
ioasly ; ** the French perhaps "
" Yes," he said, " we have jast heard from a scoat
that the French ander General Bisson are marching
towards us, and there is little doabt of the trath of his
assertion, for the alarm-bells are already pealing in the
direction indicated."
"Oh, dear I oh, dear!" she cried; "and I thought
we had gained sach a victory ! Perhaps the peasants
will go off now and leave as to the mercy of the
French !"
" l^o danger of that," said her hasband ; " for oar
people feel that they have gone too far to recede, and
are already making preparations for the reception of the
enemy : barricades have been erected at the triamphal
UP WITH THX XAGLS ! S21
areh, the streetB in that direction are all blocked np,
and every house and garden fit for defense will be ooeii
pied by our riflemen."
*^ I wish the Anstrians were here, and the fighting
over/' said Madame Hartmann.
So do I ; bnt; as there is no danger for the present,
you may go to bed, and sleep securely until morning.''
The advice was good ; but who could sleep with such
noise in t^ streets at night, such incessant pealing of
alarm-bells after daybreak ?
Doris, Hilda, and their mother were frequently in
Bmmeran's room, and tried to beguile the weary, sleep*
less hours by informing him of all that was going on in
the town. They were enabled to do so without diffi
culty, as Major Teimer was actually in the house with
them, at first as guest, and some hours afterwards as
fugitive, the people having begun to doubt the authen-
ticity of his credentials, and reAising to obey any fhr-
ther orders given by him.
'* This is very unfortunate/' observed Doris, "for his
orders and arrangements were exceedingly judicious,
and I fear that even Tyroleans may commit ezcesseSvif
long without a leader."
" That is very probable," said Hilda. " It is a pity
they could not continue the worship of the Imperial
Eagle a little longer : it was a harmless amusement T'
" Tou have not told me about that," said Smmeran,
looking towards Doris.
" I thought 1 feared you might not like to hear
any thing so fanatically Austrian."
' I like to hear every thing, without reserve," he
answered.
^ In that case," said Doris, " I ought to have told you
the meaning of the noise in the street this afternoon,
when you desired me to 1 ok out of the window, for
S22 AT ODD8.
just then the people were oarrying aboat in trfamph
a gigantic eagle made of carved wood that some one
had discovered in the Franciscan chnrch. The cries
of *Vivaf that you heard were addressed to this
symbol of Austria, which, after having been paraded in
procession through the principal streets, was at last
placed with enthusiastic shouts over the gate of the
post-office/'
' Well," he said, on perceiving that she paused, ''is
that all r
" Not quite, for the ladder that had been used for this
purpose was held in its place by the peasants, who
ascended it one after the other to embrace and kiss the
eagle; and when any one remained longer than the
time allowed, a jealous murmur reminded him that
others were waiting to take his place; but I dare say
you think all this very contemptible ?"
'By no means: genuine enthusiasm is never con-
temptible. Pray go on !"
' Madame Hartmann assured me that many of those
present had tears in their eyes when an old man who
had fought bravely all the morning threw his arms
rouud the eagle, and exclaimed, Hurrah, old fellow!
your feathers have grown again !' "*
"You need not have hesitated to tell me all this,
Doris,'* observed Emmeran. "None of us can now
doubt the patriotism of the Tyroleans, or their deter-
mination to remain Austrian; but they are probably
not aware that the small garrison they overpowered
yesterday morning are in daily expectation of French
troops, who are on the march from Italy, and these may
reach Innsbruck before the Austrians."
"There is no doubt of that," said Hil4a, "for the
Fact
UP WITH THS SAQLfi! 823
French under Creneral BiBson are now on Mount Isel,
and it is to assemble the peasants that they have been
ringing the alarm-bells so incessantly/'
''Some of oar troops most be with Bisson/' cried
Emmeran, trying to raise himself from his pillow.
*' Major Teimer only spoke of the French '* began
Doris.
''No matter. I think if I could see the surgeon
again he would allow me to get ap.^'
"He would not," said Doris, "for he told me you
were very likely to suflfer from fever, and had no chance
of being able to leave your room for weeks. You heard
him say so, mamma V*
" Yes,'' answered her mother; "and I also heard him
recommend perfect tranquillity and the avoidance of all
mental excitement; but this last direction has been
altogether forgotten, I think."
" Very true," said Doris : " it is unpardona)[)le our dis-
cussing such subjects in this room."
"Oh, my dear aunt I" cried Emmeran, beseechingly,
" do not condemn me to lie here listening to the shouts
in the streets, the pealing of bells, and firing of signals^
without being told what is going on if you keep me
in ignorance I shall inevitably become delirious 1"
" Well, you shall hear all we can ascertain on con-
dition that you remain quiet; and remember that, happen
what will, you must resign yourself to be our prisoner in
this room until your wounds are healed."
" Be it so," answered Emmeran, submissively : "I pro-
mise to listen with perfect stoicism to whatever you may
henceforward tell me."
A servant just then entered the room to say that Mr
Hartmann requested to see her.
"Doris," said Emmeran, but without moving or even
S24 AT ODDB.
looking ftt her, ^tae the rebels that is, the insur-
gents 1 mean the peasants "
"Or the patriots," interposed Doris; "but you may
eall them what yon please now I"
- ' Are they still in Innsbruck V he aisked.
"Yes/'
" And where have they been quartered V
^'Some in the houses, but by far the greater' number
in the streets, and the fields and gardens beyond the
town."
" Have they obtained any advantages elsewhere ?"
" Tes : I believe Speckbacher has taken Hall by sur-
prise, and Hofer gained a victory near Sterzing."
" There will soon be some hard fighting," said Emme-
ran ; " for Bisson is evidently surrounded by your
patriots, and will have to force a passage through the
town."
" Or capitulate," said his aunt, who just then re-
turned to the room. ' Major Teimer seems to think this
inevitable, and actually, some hours ago, procured an
open letter from General Kinkel to this Frenchman,
recommending him to send some one to. ascertain the'
state of afikirs here, the force and enthusiasm of the
peasants, and the utter impossibility of avoiding a
capitulation."
" Bisson is not likely to pay much attention to a letter
so evidently written under compulsion," observed Em-
meran.
Dont be too sure of that," said his aunt ; *' for both
a French and a Bavarian officer of high rank were im-
mediately sent here, and Major Teimer has thought it
necessary to retain them in the town."
"As prisoners ?" cried Bmmeran : " impossible I"
" Well, I don't myself think it is right," she continued ;
"but Major Teimer says that * necessity has no laws,'
UP WITH THE eagle! 325
and he has sent back an aide^e-camp or soldier who
was with them : since then there has been some skir*^
mishing, enough he thinks to convince the French of
their dangerous position, and he is now going to Wiltaa
to propose a capitulation."
'* Doris/' whispered Emmeran, " if there were no Ba-
varians under Bisson's command, I shouldn't mind his
having to capitulate. Napoleon only gave us Tyrol in
order to secure a free passage for his armies to and from
Italy, and, as he has not allowed us to reserve enough
troops to keep possession of the country, he may take
the consequences I"
**1 am glad you begin to understand him/' she an-
swered.
"By-the-by/' said her mother, after a pause, "Mr.
Hartmann has just made an extraordinary request : it
seems that General Bisson obstinately refuses to confer
with any one excepting an Austrian officer, and, as Major
Teimer has no uniform here, Mr. Hartmann thought
that perhaps we could lend him one of Frank's."
** What an idea !" cried Hilda, indignantly ; " and for
such a purpose, too !"
^' My dear Hilda, the chances are that if Frank were
here he would put on his uniform and go himself to
Wiltau 1 As it was, I could only regret that there was
none to lend: so Major Teimer has borrowed one be-
knging to a pensioned staff-officer, who, however, is,
unfortunately, a tall corpulent man, while Major Teimer
is small and slight.'"*"
"At any other time/' said Hilda, "and under any
other circumstances, I really could laugh at such a mas-
querade."
' I don't think General Bisson will be at all iifclined
* Fact.
28
8S6 AT ODD8.
to laagh/' asgwered her mother, ^' nor is Major Teimer
at all a man likely to provoke laughter : he jested him-
self about the uniform, bat said if it assisted him to
compel the French to capitulate, it was all he re-
quired."
' At all eyents," said Hilda, I am glad that Frank's
uniform is safe in my wardrobe."
*So he had one with him when he was here?" ob-
served her mother, a good deal surprised.
"Yes," answered Hilda; *'and forgot it in his huny
to leave us I"
" It is fortunate I did not know it," continued her mo-
ther; "for your refusing to lend it might have given
offense, which is better avoided at all times, and very
e8iecially at present."
" My dear mother, it would have been of very little
importance ; for I am convinced we shall have the French
in the town a few hours hence."
If so," interposed Doris, " they will enter it as pri-
soners I"
" Whatever may happen," said their mother, " I am
sure you will agree with me in thinking that the ex-
pression of hopes or fears, triumph or despondency,
ought to be avoided by us, in consideration that what
gives satisfaction to one must cause disappointment to
the other; and, at all events, I trust that regard for Em-
meran will induce you to refrain from sach discussions
in this room for some time at least."
" Ko, no, by no means !" cried Emmeran, eagerly : " I
should be very sorry if my presence imposed any sort
of restraint on either of my cousins, as it would serve
to make them avoid my room. I like to hear both sides
of the Question, and particularly desire to have an account
of all that occurs at Wiltau from my bitterest enemy,
from Doris herself!"
UP WITH THX AOLe! 827
''But the doctor's directions, Emmeraa '^ began
his aunt.
" I know what they were," he answered, " but am
perfectly convinced that no tranquillity, mental or bodily,
would now do me so much good as a long conversation
with you about various things that are making me
anxious and restless. Sit down beside me, dear aunt,
and do not again leave me alone to work myself into a
fever, as I did yesterday*'
While she seated herself in the chair to which he
pointed, Doris and Hilda walked through the open doors
of the adjoining rooms until they reached a window
with a small stone balcony, on which they stepped to
look up and down the deserted street.
** I wish we were in some other part of the town,"
observed Hilda; ''for we can see nothing here."
" I think we saw more than enough yesterday," an-
swered Doris : " that scene at the gate of the hospital,
and Sigmund's death, I shall never be able to forget."
"Kor I," said Hilda: "it was dreadful to witness;
but we have the consolation of knowing that Emmeran
rivaled Colonel Dietfurt in courage, and that Sigmnnd
fell in the performance of a noble act 1 am afraid I
must say the only one of his life I"
"Hilda I"
" I mean what I say, Doris : his death was as chivaU
rous as his life was base and unprincipled."
"Let the recollection of his faults be buried with
him," said Doris : " let us forgive as we hope to be for-
given."
" Be it so," said Hilda ; " I never knew how treacher-
ous and unscrupulous he was until yesterday morning,
when on this balcony, standing where you are now, he
spoke to me, perhaps for the first time in his life, wholly
without reserve."
828 AT ODDS.
**I think I know when that occurred/' said Doris:
was it not just before he left us for the last time to
obtain information ? I saw directly that something
was wrong, and even suspected what he had said to
you."
'No, Doris: you could not imagine any thing so
perfidious."
TeS| I can, Hilda; for since the day you told me he
had proposed obtaining a divtrce for you, and I per-
ceived he had even ventured to urge you to consent,
there could be little doubt about the motives that in-
duced him to visit us and remain so long in Innsbruck."
** And I only thought of you !" said Hilda; "it would
have been so natural his making another overture."
" Perhaps so," answered Doris, ^* but in that case he
would never have given himself so much trouble to
irritate you against Frank."
Here they heard the distant report of a rifle, then
another, and another, until they came in the quick suc-
cession of sharp skirmishing.
" I hate the sound of that slow firing," observed Hilda,
*and especially those single rifle-shots: they denote
the deliberate aiming of your Tyrolean patriots, and
every bullet takes a life I"
Doris did not like the idea suggested, and seemed in-
clined to leave the balcony.
" And I must say," continued Hilda, " that, if Frank
was aware of this impending insurrection, he might have
been more explicit both in words and letters."
" I think," replied Doris, " he both said and wrote as
much as he could venture to do under the circumstances,
}ertainly enough to have induced any one but you to
leave Innsbruck !"
My dear Doris, I did not understand half what ho
naeant until yesterday, or I should have strongly urged,
UP WITH THS EAGLE I 829
instead of merely proposing, that you and my mother
should leave me here/'
^ That was out of the question, Hilda; but, since poor
Emmeran has been so badly wounded, we rejoice in
your willfulness, which, of course, was encouraged by a
consciousness of having friends on both sides."
^ I will not deny that the certainty of protection was
a great relief to my mind, as feir as you were concerned,''
said Hilda ; ^' but, for my part, I should, at all events,
have remained here, and for a thoroughly selfish motive,
the wish to see Frank again."
' Do you suppose there is any chance of his return-
ing here ?" asked Doris.
I may hope so," answered Hilda; "for he told me
soon after his arrival that, if things turned out as he
expected, he should most probably be in Innsbruck
again before spring was over. Taking it, therefore, for
granted that he was even then aware of the probability
of this insurrection, it is evident that, if Austria gain
the advantage in this struggle, Frank will come here."
**I hope he may," said Doris, stepping into the room,
but lingering beside the glass door, while she added, "I
wish he were here now, and in Major Teimer's place,
compelling the French to capitulate."
' I think, instead of capitulating, they are marching
into the town," said Hilda; for the firing has ceased,
and I hear distinctly the sound of distant music."
It may be the peasants " beg;an Doris.
"No," rejoined Hilda: "it is good military music,
and not the fifes and drums, violins and Jew's-harps,
that we heard yesterday when the Tyroleans were cele-
brating their triumph."
Doris listened, and her countenance fell.
"The French are marching into the town," repeated
Hilda, in a subdued voice : " this is not what Frank
28*
880 AT ODDS.
expected, and I could-^^^lmost wish it were other*
wise I"
And in fiict it was otherwise : for the French then
marching into Innsbruck were prisoners, and the oheer-
tal military mosio wafted on the south wind towards
the town was compulsory, the bands of the captured
regiments having been ordered to enliven with their
best marches the triumph of the Tyroleans.
A few hours later, the most minute particulars of all
that had occurred became known, and nowhere more
accurately than in the house of which the Walderings
were inmates. Having heard Mr. Hartmann's perhaps
exaggerated account of the scene enacted at Wiltau,
Hilda and Doris felt alike unwilling to be the fiit to
communicate such intelligence to Emmeran, and re-
quested their mother to tell him of the capitulation in
the best way she could devise.
Bmmeran heard her without interruption. ^ This is
a great humiliation for the French/' he observed, as she
ceased speaking, ^a far greater than the surrender in
Spain last year: Dupont had at least a regular army
before him, and not a swarm of half-armed peasants !"
My dear Bmmeran, you must take into considera-
tion the number of the peasants here, and ^their rifles.'^
"I have reason to do so," he answered; ''but I am
glad Dietfurt did not; for I would rather be lying here,
crippled as I now am, than have yielded without faing
a shot. Even my poor brother's death cannot make me
think otherwise."
^ I shall not attempt to dispute the point with you,
Emmeran; but you must forgive my rejoicing in a
capitulation that has saved so many lives. As, however,
soldiers have their own code of laws, perhaps you will
be glad to hear that the Bavarians, under General Bis-
son, wanted to force their way through the town, and
UP WITH THE SAQLE! 881
were in despair at the inopportnne absence of their
colonel."
^ Where was he f" asked Emmeran.
In Innsbrack. He and a Frenchman of equal rank
were the officers detained here as prisoners yesterday."
** I remember your telling me/' said Emmeran ; ' but
I had no idea at the time that one of them was so well
known to me. Can it, however^ be possible that Bisson
made no attempt to come to terms with this Major
Teimerr
^0f course he made repeated efforts/' she answered.
*'He promised to pay for every thing he required in
the town (a great concession for a French general), and
only demanded a free passage for his troops, to enable
them without delay to join their Emperor at Augsburg.
Major Teimer's answer was that there was no altema-
tive,-^they must lay down their arms and become
prisoners of war. The general even proposed march-
ing, with both arms and ammunition following in bag-
gage-wagons, ^in vain: Major Teimer was inexorable,
and the moment he turned away in displeasure, a signal
was given, and the Tyrolese fire recommenced. I
imagine it must have been very effective, for even the
French grenadiers showed symptoms of insubordination ;
and, when the peasants pressed forward, the officers sur-
rounded the general and began to insist on surrender,
their anxiety for a capitulation and horror of the mass
of wildly-shouting riflemen being so great that two
of them actually signed their names before General
Bisson r*
Poor manl" said Emmeran, glancing towards the
door, where Doris and Hilda were now standing; "even
Doris would pity him did she know what awaits him in
Fact.
882 AT 0]D8.
bis first interview w ith Napoleon, and the court-martial
that will inevitablj sacceed it.''
"I do pity him," said Doris, coming forward; "so
mneh so that, as far as Greneral Bisson is personally
concerned, I eoold not enjoy Major Teimer's triumphant
recital."
( For my part,'' said Hilda, ^ I have taken an invete-
rate disUke to that Major Teimer : he seemed, even by
his own account, to have had no sort o consideratum
fbr the unfortunate old general, even when he saw him
tear his gray hair, and heard him, with tears of despair,
lament his loss of honor and military renown."
Perhaps," suggested her mother, Major Teimer
may have felt without venturing to show his compassion.
Had he been moved by his adversary's distress, he would
have been obliged to grant him better t^rms.'^
^At all events," said Hilda, **I am glad he did not
wear Frank's uniform."
The capitulation is signed," observed Emmeran, with
a sigh, ''and is of such importance that I wish Frank
had been here and worn his uniform himself. This act
of Major Teimer's is of a description to entitle him to a
Theresian cross, and I have little doubt that he will ob-
tain it.'*' We cannot blame him, Hilda, for having gained
a bloodless victory and done his country an essential
service."
^0h, I am sure, Emmeran, if ym think his conduct
praiseworthy," observed Hilda, ' J have nothing more
to say!"
''It was, by all accounts," said her mother, ''more
praiseworthy than polite; but when General Chasteler
He did, and became in consequence Baron of "Wiltau,'* the
name of the plaoe where the capitulation was signed.
UP WITH THE eagle!
aniyes, Hilda, yon will have an enemy whose ohivalrons
manners will give you complete satisfaotion/'
"Well, Doris," said Emmeran, "why don't you speak ?
I am waiting to hear from you how the peasants used
their victory."
' Bather ask how they abused it," interposed Hilda.
' All the soldiers were immediately disarmed."
^'Of course they were," said Emmeran; that was
one of the stipulations, I suppose."
^ Perhaps," said Hilda, "it was also stipulated that
General Bisson was to drive into Innsbruck with Migor
Teimer in an open carriage, and that the bands of the
regiments were to play their parade-marches while on
their way to imprisonment?"
"Scarcely," answered Emmeran; **but one cannot
expect a display of fine feeling from a crowd of triumph-
ant peasants."
"I think they behaved uncommonly well," observed
Doris: "no one was injured or insulted, although they
were perfectly conscious of their strength and numbers,
and had no authorized leader I One cannot on such oc-
casions expect theni to march into the town with the
precision and order of a regiment of soldiers. They
may have exulted too loudly, but it was loyal exultation,
and their shouts were for their Emperor and Ihe Arch-
duke John."
"Kot forgetting the Austrian colors and the eagle,"
said Hilda. " Only imagine, Emmeran : all the painters
in Innsbruck are now employed turning the blue and
-white Bavarian colors into yellow and black, and car-
penters have been set to work to take down the lions
and exalt the eagles."
"That is not at all surprising," said Emmeran, quietly:
these emblems are of immense importance."
884 AV ODIMB.
* Indeed ! then I mast tell you the fate of the lion that
was on the palace/'
" No, Hilda, pray don't," cried Doris, intemipting her.
*Gan yon not see that these details are distressing
Emmeran ? The lion has been removed, and an eagle
will take its place as a matter of course, and no farther
explanation is necessary/'
^' Doris come here/' said Emmeran, rather author-
itatively, presuming perhaps on his helpless state and
her undisguised sympathy.
And she came towards him, and sat down on the chair
to which he pointed, and allowed him to take her hand
and hold it fast, while he added, ^ Tell me what they
did to the lion that was on the fagade of the palace."
She did not answer.
I can make allowances for the wild exultation of
peasants," he continued, ^and your silence makes me
perhaps imagine the insult greater than it actually wa.
I suppose they dashed it to the ground and trampled
on itr
"No, no," cried Doris, coloring: "the lion was beyond
the reach of any ladder they could just then procure; so
they made a target of it, and shot it down with
their rifles!"
"A thoroughly Tyrolean idea," said Emmeran; "and
if the lion must make place for the eagle, better so than
otherwise."
"It was a tumultuous shooting-match," said Doris;
"but one cannot expect refinement of feeling from
peasants: we must be satisfied to find them disposed to
treat the prisoners humanely, and willing to take the*
best possible care of the wounded."
"And," asked Emmeran, looking towards his aunt,
" and is there any chance of a few hours' tranquillity for
the burial of the dead?"
i^
UP WITH THB EAGLE !
'^ There may be to-morrow/' she answered, ' and Sig*
mund's remains can be placed in the vaalt of the Sarnthal
&mily onUl the time come for their removal to Westen*
ried. I have written as yon desired to your father, sent
to inquire about Colonel Dietfurt, and requested Madame
Hartmann to order mourning for us during the short
time the shops were open to-day. Perhaps I ought to
mention that there is a report in the town that another
detachment of French have been seen on the march to
Innsbruck, and most of the peasants are preparing to
meet them on Mount Isel/'
"A most fortunate report/' observed Hilda, ''even if
it prove altogether false; for Doris herself must acknow-
ledge that it is dangerous having so many thousands of
peasants crowded together in a place like this, without
even a nominal comgtnander or any one having a shadow
of authority over them or others."
"I should think o anywhere but here/' said Doris;
^bnt I am so thoroughly convinced of the purely patri*
otic motives of this revolt, that I can feel no fear of
the peasants committing excesses. There is far more
danger of their going to their homes before the work of
emancipation is completed."
"I hope you may be right," said Hilda, "and I trust
you will not think me very ignoble and selfish if I also
hope we may have a quiet night. I feel as if I could
sleep until the day after to-morrow, were the church-bells
and patriots silenced for that short space of time."
"Let us take advantage of the present tranquillity/'
said her mother; "we have at all events talked far too
much in this room to-day, and Emmeran will be better
without seeing any of us for some time."
The night was as quiet as Hilda could have desired,
and when the bells began to peal in the morning, there
was no cause for anxiety; instead of the French, Marshal*
9M AT ODDS.
Chasteler and the Austrian troops under his command
marched into the town, accompanied by an enthusiastic
multitude of peasants, whose patriotism found vent in
the wildest demonstrations of joy and devotion.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
WHO MADB THE WORLD AT ODDS?
Doris, Hilda, and their mother observed what is called
respect for Sigmund's memory, by putting on deep
mourning and living for some time in great seclusion;
they did not say so, but they knew this was merely
for appearance' sake, and made no other hypocritical
attempts to feign a grief they could not feel. His name
was never mentioned when they were alone; and Em-
meran after some time learned to avoid a topic that so
evidently imposed a restraint upon relations to whom,
in the intimacy of protracted illness, he was becoming
daily more attached.
The alarm-bells ceased to peal, firing and shouting
were no longer heard in the streets, the peasants re-
turned to their houses and worked in the fields and
vineyards as quietly and unconcernedly as if their three
days' insurrection had freed them forever from a for-
eign yoke, while Marshal Chasteler employed himself in
the organisation of the militia, or rather of the volun-
tary levee en masse of the people for the defense of the
country. Fortunately, there was not much to be done,
the laws of Tyrol making it in such cases incumbent on
avery man between eighteen and sixty years of age
WHO BfADB THE WORLD AT ODDS? SS7
either to take up arms himself or send a substitute.
These men generally supplied themselves with provi-
sions for a fortnight, and, if their absence from home
exceeded that time, whatever they required was sent
afterward by their parish, women and children being
most frequently used as messengers.
A more military regulation of this force was at-
tempted, companies and battalions formed, officers ap-
pointed, and the favorite Tyrolean pikegray color chosen
for the uniform; that was not, however, very generally
worn, the peasants preferring the costume of their
valleys, which when dark-colored were peculiarly suit-
able to the mode of warfare subsequently adopted.
The Innsbruck newspaper was for some time com-
pletely filled with the Marquis Chasteler's addresses to
the Tyroleans, and the Archduke John's proclamations
and orders. To Doris and her mother these were deeply
interesting; and one might have supposed they were the
same to Hilda, as she sat carefully studying the double
columns of the very diminutive ill-printed papers, had
not an occasional remark served to prove that she
wished to remind her mother and sister that her view
of affairs remained unchanged.
''It seems there were twenty thousand peasants here
during the insurrection," she observed one morning to
Smmeran, who had left his room for the first time, and
Tvas lying on a sofa in tbe drawing-room: ''they are ex-
ceedingly praised in this proclamation of the Marquis
Chasteler."
" And with reason ,'' he answered ; " I agree with Doris
in thinking they behaved uncommonly well for men
without a leader."
*It is a very good thing, however," she continued,
''that they have all gone home again; a regular army,,
29
888 AT ODDS.
even of eDemies, is greatly to be preferred to tliese
patriots, with or without a leader."
^ Especially/' said Emmeran, '^ when the commanding
enemy is snch a man as Ohasteler/'
Tes/' said Hilda; ^I like him because he visited
Colonel Dietfarty did all in his power to save his life, and
has since had him buried with military honors ; and I
like him for the chivalrous act of sending back the
embroidered bands of the captured colors, when he
found they had been worked by our Princess Augusta/'
* And/' said Emmeran, smiling, you like him most
of all for calling here and talking of your father and
Frank I"
" I thought him very gentlemanlike/' said Hilda.
" So he ought to be/' observed Emmeran, ' for he is a
descendant of a branch of the house of Lothringen, a
grandee of Spain, and I know not what all besides."
"He calls himself a Tyrolean in this proclamation/^
said Hilda, referring to the paper in her hand, ''and
mentions expressly that his country, the Netherlands,
is lost to him, but that, having become naturalised here,
he now considers the name of Tyrolean his highest
title."
" Perhaps you will do the same some years hence,"
observed Emmeran.
Hilda looked at him inquiringly.
" Well, if not expressly Tyrolean, at least Austrian,
which is the next thing to it," he continued; "for Frank
will in the course of time undoubtedly add one more to
the naturalized possessors of names beginning with O :
why not O'More, as well as O'Donnel, O'Beilly^
O'Connor, O'Niel, and all the rest of them ?"
I rather think," said Hilda, " that if ever Frank
become naturalized in Austria, he will endeavor to take
the name of Garvagh ; a permission of that kind is
WHO MADX THS WOSLD AT ODDS? 889
easily obtained on sach occasions; and when speaking
to Doris of his annoyance at his father and brother
having lately changed the old Irish name of ^ Garvagh'
into Beechpark, he said he should like to adopt it as
snmame if an occasion presented itself/'
^ Taking the name of an estate is very common in
many conntries/' observed Emmeran.
Yery/' said Hilda; "and Doris tells me there arc
qnite as many officers with names of Irish places in the
Austrian army as of those beginning with O ; but they
Bound so much more like German than English, that
only people acquainted with the meaning of Irish words
can detect them, and in a couple of generations the
derivation is forgotten. Do you remember, Doris, when
you were reading the army promotions some time ago,
the remarkably pretty names that you told me meant
in Irish the vale of thrushes,' and the old castle' V
^'Tes/' answered Doris; "and the inhabitants of that
old castle, which, however, is now a modem house, were
very nearly related to the O'Mores of Garvagh. I re-
Mllect hearing that some great-great*uncle of ours had
gone abroad, entered the service of the Emperor of Ger-
many, married, and become gradually so estranged from
his family that his children never attempted to keep up
any correspondence with their relations in Ireland.
That officer is very probably a descendant of Uncle
Barry's, but may never have heard the meaning of his
name, and might even be incredulous if it were explained
to him."
Well," said Emmeran, ^'Erank may purchase or
otherwise obtain the right to call himself von Garvah,'
and I allow it is a name that could pass muster so well
as German, that his great-grandchildren may be par-
doned if they are unconscious of a relationship with the
future O'Kores of Beechpark I"
840 a:t odds.
Frank's great-grandchildren did not seem particularly
to interest Hilda; she gathered up the papers, carried
them to Emmeran, and observed that, as a Baron Hor
mayor had been appointed Intendant, which was pro*
bably a sort of governor of the county, and the Marquis
Chasteler had gone to the south of Tyrol, she supposed
every thing would go on quietly until the Bavarians
returned to take possession of the land.
" It will be a very difficult thing for them to accom-
plish/' he answered. *' It is evident that the affection
of the Tyroleans for their Emperor and his brothers is a
sort of fanaticism; they have heard of the Spanish
guerrUlas too, and the riflemen here will rival if not sur*
pass them. The inhabitants of a country in open insur-
rection are the most dangerous of adversaries, and if
they systematically desert their villages and fly from us,
as they have begun to do, we shall be without provisions
for our army, and have no means of obtaining any kind
of information, which is of more importance than you
can well imagine I I must also tell you that no one who
has not been on the mountains here can form an idea
of the various footpaths known only to the peasants,
who can on the same day harass our army in the rear,
and a few hours afterwards meet us at the entrance of
one of those innumerable narrow passes that in a less
mountainous country would be considered impracticable.
We shall gain no laurels here, Hilda; and, to speak from
experience, I should say that rifle-bullets and defeat
were any thing rather than agreeable."
" You have been particularly unfortunate," said Hilda.
I have no right to say so," he answered, ^^ for had
one of the bullets penetrated a little deeper, I should
not have lived to complain : nevertheless, as I cannot,
like the French soldier, hope that a marshal's baton is in
store for me, or, like Frank, see a Theresian cross dan-
WHO MADE THS WOBI.D AT ODDS? 841
gling perpetually within reach of my drawn sword,
nothing bat a perhaps false feeling of honor induces me
to continue in the army. I have a sort of presentiment
that I am one of those unlucky mortals who may fight
until they are cripples without ever rising beyond the
rank of a subaltern I"
' I thought/' said Doris, who was replacing the broken
strings of her harp, that had been untouched for several
weeks, ^' I thought you had quite resolved to leave the
army, even before you received the letter from your
father entreating you to do so ?"
''Such is my intention," said Bmmeran, 'but not
until the present war is over. I hope I shall be fit for
service again before long; but I would rather be em*
ployed elsewhere than in Tyrol."
" Why so V asked Hilda.
Because I don't like the kind of warfiire we are
likely to have here; and I cannot help admiring the
loyalty of the Tyroleans to their Emperor. Our Bava-
rian Highlanders would protest, I hope, just as energeti*
cally if Napoleon took it into his head to bestow them
on Austria ; in short, Hilda, I feel as if I were fighting
on the wrong side, which proves that Doris was right
when she said some weeks ago that I had no business to
be a soldier : as such I ought to fight when commanded,
without considering the justness of the cause or my own
feelings."
^I suspect Doris has changed her mind about your
military capabilities," observed Hilda; '^ the engagement
that we witnessed at the hospital has convinced us you
can be a very daring, almost a fierce, soldier."
^ Not more so than any of the others you saw there,"
answered Emmeran ; ' though I confess to having felt
for a short time that fighting fury of which Frank has
29*
842 AT ODD8.
spoken to me, and which I am very much inclined to
think proceeds from mere animal exasperation/'
" Doris," cried Hilda, "do you hear his definition of
coarage V*
'It was not a definition of courage/' rejoined Emme*
ran, quietly : ^^ courage supposes a full consciousness of
danger, with the power of judging how it may best be
averted ; but this exasperation is a rousing of our worst
passions, and is totally reckless of consequences."
* But/' said Hilda, '^ it frequently leads to the per-
formance of daring deeds that make men famous."
** Or," said Emmeran, or, as the case may be, to
dreadful deeds that make them infamous. I imagine
that this sort of exasperation may be felt by murderers;
I have even heard that butchers in the act of killing "
^ Now, Doris," cried Hilda, appealingly, " is it not
dreadfhl the manner in which he analyzes his own and
other people's feelings I Here have I been for years
supposing Frank's achievements quite heroic, ^I had
even begun to consider Emmeran himself a sort of
second-best hero ; and now he explains that both being
in a state of animal exasperation were little better than
murderers or butchers in the act of killing !"
" I need not explain," said Enimeran, indolently, br
1 know you understand that I speak of feelings that
only lasted for a short time, and which I shall sedu-
lously suppress if ever another occasion offer. You will,
of course, despise me thoroughly when I assure you
that I prefer the actual pain of my wounds to the recol-
lection of those I inflicted."
''No, Emmeran: I do not know any one less to be
despised than you are, nor in spite of all you can say
can I for a moment doubt your eminent personal
courage ; I have even very little doubt that should any
i
WHO MADS THK WOBLD AT ODDB f 848
Opportunities. present themselyes yon will be quite as
subject to these paroxysms of exasperation as Frank/'
'^ You may be right/' he answered, thoughtfully : I
cannot answer for myself."
* You had better not," rejoined Hilda. " Suppose, for
instance, you had been with Napoleon lately, and heard
him give as parole ^Baviere et.Bravoure:' do you think
that your enthusiasm would have been less than that of
others? do you doubt that led on by him you would
have acted otherwise than at the hospital gate V
Emmeran did not answer ; his eyes followed Doris as
she put down her tuning-key and pushed aside her harp,
and he waited until she was at some distance from them
before he said, in a whisper, You ought not to have
reminded Dbris of the losses of the Austrians at Eatis-
bon; she has scarcely eaten any thing since we got
those newspapers from Madame d'Epplen ; her face of
dismay effectually quelled any enthusiasm I might have
felt on the occasion, and there certainly was some truth
in what she said about Napoleon personally command-
ing our troops only to make them bear the brunt of the
battle and enable him to save his own army as much as
circumstances would permit. No one can admire Napo-
leon as a general more than I do, Hilda ', but as a man
my regard and respect for him is much on a par with
Doris!"
^ I suspect her opinion is beginning to influence you
on many subjects as well as this one," said Hilda.
'* I should not be ashamed to acknowledge it if it were
so," he replied; "but I never was an unreserved ad-
mirer of his like my father, Sigmund, and in fact almost
all my acquaintances. I still prefer a German to a
French general, a German to a French ^parole,' and
might perhaps have heard unmoved Napoleon pro-
nounce the flattering alliteration ^Baviere et Bravoure'*'
844 AT 01ID8.
While Bmmeran had been speaking, hi^ aunt had en-
tered the room; and Hilda tamed from him to meet
her and exclaim, So soon back again ? was Madame
d'Epplen from home V*
^ No : she does not venture out now, as she naturally
fears an increase of the unpopularity of all Bavarians
when it becomes known that General Wrede and Le-
febvre, Buke of Bantsio, are actually on the march
here I"
When Boris heard this she came towards her mother,
who continued, in answer to a look of eager inquiry,
The peasants are already under arms again, Boris, and
have done their utmost to defend the mountain-defil^L
When their ammunition was exhausted they precipitated
masses of rock and felled trees on the invaders; but it
was all to no purpose : the armies are advancing, and the
efforts of the people are in vain.'^
Where is Marshal Chasteler now?'' asked Boris,
quickly.
' Marching from the south, they say; but he will be
overpowered by numbers, and is personally in imminent
danger, as Napoleon has pronounced him an outlaw,
and given orders that be is to be shot if taken prisoner.''
0h, mother I" cried Hilda; *I cannot believe that
Napoleon would do any thing so unchivalrous towards
the actual commander of an enemy's army !"
^* You can nevertheless read it," answered her mother,
' for it is printed in several of the papers that Madame
d'Epplen's friends have contrived to send her from
Munich. The wording of the death-warrant will please
you as little as the act itself, Hilda; it is against ^one
Chasteler, a so-called general in the Austrian service,
who was the cause of the insurrection in Tyrol, and has
been proved guilty of the murder of numerous French
and Bavarians.' "
WHO MADE THB WOALD AT ODDS? 345
Here her mother took a packet of newspapers from
her pocket, and began to search for those from which
she had just quoted, when her eye fell on the following
passage, and she could not resist the temptation to read
it aloud with ironical emphasis :
" * The victories of Napoleon the Great are not alone
the wonder and pride of this century, but also materially
conduce to the happiness and welfare of mankind. From
the moment of conquest the vanquished people are under
the protection of the Conqueror, the Hero, and the
Sage, who seems chosen by Providence to give repose
to all nations by conferring on them a higher degree of
independence.* The Emperor Napoleon is a father to
all, &ther even to the people with whose army and
princes he is at war : his care for the unprotected never
^ Hilda, I leave you and Emmeran to read the rest,
if you care to hear it, when I inform you that Vienna,
after a short bombardment, has been obliged to capitu-
late."
Without taking any notice of the effect her words
had produced on her hearers, she continued : ' Madame
d'Epplen requested me to keep this information secret,
as it might produce unpleasant feelings towards the few
Bavarians still resident here, and she seems convinced
that a week or two will decide the fate of Tyrol, if not
of Austria."
A servant opened the door to announce dinner.
No one moved.
Hilda bent down towards Emmeran, and whispered,
Is there any chance of the war ending with the capitu-
lation of Vienna ?"
" Not the least," he answered.
* Verbatim from a newspaper of that period.
846 AT ODM,
And yoa think there may be battle J"
*More than one, most probably/'
And Frank?"
^ Frank," answered Emmeran^ ^ is by this time with
the Archdoke Charles; just where he would most desire
to be."
' Ohy Emmeran, I cannot this time rejoice at the sao-
cess of Napoleon I can yon?"
Perhaps I might if ^if Doris did not look so deadly-
pale and disheartened."
'^ Boris's anxiety is on a grand scale/' said Hilda:
she thinks of French ascendency and the enslaving of
nations; but I/' she added, with difficulty restraining
her tearSy '^ I only think of Frank ; and if he be wounded
or or worse ^I shall hate Napoleon as long as I
live I"
'It is scarcely just, your making him answerable for
Frank's safety," observed Emmeran.
"Yet I do," she answered; "for, as you would say
yourself, he is the cause, though the remote one, of all
that may happen. Would this war have ever been
or would there be any war at all if it were not for him ?*'
Emmeran turned towards her, evidently disposed to
discuss the subject; but Hilda walked quickly away
from him, and not in the direction of the dining-room,
which that day remained unoccupied.
CONTAINING M0&8 JAOT THAN llOTION. 847
CHAPTEE XXXIV.
CONTAINING MORE TACT THAN FICTION.
It is not our province to describe the military move-
ments of the Anstrians and Tyroleans on one side, and
the French and Bavarians on the other^ daring the
ensuing week or ten days. Horrible accounts of the
burning and plundering of Schwatz reached Innsbruck,
and considerably increased the desire of the burghers
there for peace on any terms : so that when the Bava-
rian General Wrede not long afterwards entered the
town, all the bells pealed^ a crowd of anxious citizens
met and accompanied him through the streets to the
Buburb called Neustadt, and there listened with great
humility to his reproaches and threats of punishment
in case of future insubordination. At the intercession
of the Burgh ermeister, he promised to spai'e the town,
and, in reference to Schwatz, observed, '* Other places
have been less fortunate than Innsbruck ; I wished to
save Schwatz also, but a crowd of mad peasants threw
themselves into the houses and had the audacity to fire
on my soldiers : no means could be found to bring these
wretches to reason, and the unfortunate town has, in
consequence, become a heap of ruins. I know the names
of the most guilty here," he continued, " but his Majesty,
Max Joseph, has desired me to show indulgence when*
ever it is possible, and I shall do so.''
Here the assembled crowd began to shout, " Long live
King Max !" but the general would not listen to them,
still less when- his own name was shouted, but, waving
hifl hand impatiently, and saying 9uch demonstrations
848 AT ODIMB.
could not oome from their hearts, he ordered his men to
march at once to their camp at Wiltau.
Greneral Deroy was also soon after encamped there,
but Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzic, took possession of the
emperor's palace, and appeared on the following Sunday
with great pomp in the adjoining chapel.
" Quite a stately personage," observed Hilda, whose
curiosity had induced her to join the crowd assembled
to stare at the French marshal. ''One would never
imagine that this Lefebvre was a miller's son. Doris,
indeed, says that military nien have a sort of conven-
tional manner, which, perhaps, may be easily acquired;
but, at all events, this man is not at all what I expected
to see. How did you like him, Emmeran, when you
were presented V
"Oh, very well: he is from Alsace, you know, and
speaks German, which is an advantage to him here ; but
he considers his mission ended, and leaves Innsbruck
to-morrow, taking General Wrede and almost all our
cavalry with him, so that General Deroy alone remains
here with a few thousand men."
"And you," she asked, "you remain with us ?"
" I have been given permission to continue your guest
for some time longer."
" I am glad to hear that, Emmeran ; for you are not
fit for active service yet."
" We shall see," he answered. " I don't at all believe
that the peasants will remain quiet when the greater
part of our force has been withdrawn : it is absolutely
tempting them to rebellion. We cannot obtain certain
information, but I am almost sure the ringleaders, Hofer
and Speckbacher, are collecting their Landsturm, as
they call it, in all directions."
" They will not be able to effect much against such a
forcie of regular troops," observed Hilda, confidently.
OONTAININQ MOBS FACT THAN FICTION. 849'
^ General Deroy," answered Emmeran, gravely, " is
not to retain more than six thousand men, and the
peasants can easily muster twenty or thirty thousand,
and may he assisted hy some of the Austrian troops who
have not yet left the country."
" But surely, Emme^an, Marshal Lefebvre must know
all this as well as you V
" Of course he does, but I suspect both he and Wrede
have received private orders that cannot be disobeyed j
and Deroy must remain here because he is singxdarly
popular, even in Tyrol T'
' I could almost suppose,'' said Hilda, '^ that Madame
d'Epplen had also received private orders to leave Inns-
brack, for she informed me this morning that she con-
sidered the opportunity of returning to Bavaria just now
too good to be lost, and asked me to drive with her as
far as Hall or Volders."
"I rather think," interposed Doris, *^that Madame
d'Epplen fears some ill-mounted French officers may
take a fancy to her four handsome carriage-horses, and
expect to get them for any price they may choose to
offer."
"Not unlikely," said Hilda, ^*just as the Austrians
took mine at Ulm, you know ; but don't imagine that I
blame them," she added, hastily; ^ such things occur
wherever there is war, and if Madame d'Epplen can
save her well-matched grays by flight, she is right to do
BO. At all events, I have promised to go the first stage
with her, as she has offered to let me drive."
"I hope you won't do any such thing," cried Doris,
eagerly.
" Why not, if I refrain from taking the reins in my
hands until we are beyond the town?" asked Hilda,
laughing; '^ and should we afterwards meet any one of
80
850 * AT ODDS.
higher rank thau a peasant^ I promise iastantly to re-
sign them to the coachman."
"But how are you to return home?" asked Doris,
OTidently dissatisfied.
** In the way we generally drive out now," she an-
swered, ' post-horses to the cal^he; and for propriety's
sake I can take old Janet with me, and have both Martin
and Michael on the box in case you and mamma will
not make the excursion with me."
* I don't think you can expect or wish my mother to
fatigue herself so unnecessarily," said Doris, ^' especially
when you remember th^t you will have no choice of
weather, as, if Madame d'Epplen intends to leave Inns*
brnck now, she will of course take advantage of the
escort of the officer who is going to Munich with dis-
patches."
" Colonel d'Bpplen strongly recommended her to do
so in his letter," answered Hilda, ^^ but I don't think
she likes the delay. With regard to the horses you naay
be right, as she has not used them for several days;
time and weather, however, are of no importance to me,
provided I can hold the reins and have a clear road for
an hour or two ; I want to see if I remember all Frank
taught me when we first went to XJlm. Do you re-
member those drives to Forsteck and Elchingen, Doris ?"
"Yes; the Director used invariably to advise me to
insure my life and make a will before I went out with
you."
" Would it not be expedient," asked Emmeran, " to
mention this circumstance to Madame d'Epplen ?"
" Quite unnecessary," said Hilda ; " she is not at all
timid, and I am not likely to worry horses that may
have to be driven two stages without resting."
Some days afterwards, Madame d'Epplen's carriage
and the just then, in consequence of long confinement.
CONTAIKIKQ HOBE FACT THAN FIOnON. 861
very restive gray horses, were seen entering the street
by Hilda, as she stood on the balcony waiting for them.
"Here they are, dear mother," she said, stepping
into the room ; " won't yon look at them ? I never saw
better matches, ^both figure and temperament. Good-
bye until evening !"
Her mother walked to the window and waved an
adieu to Madame d'Epplen * The young officer who
was the bearer of dispatches sprang from his carriage
and prepared to assist Hilda to mount the box, but with
a playful gesture of rejection, and a laughing glance
upwards towards her mother and sister, she stepped into
the carriage, took a place beside Madame d'Bpplen, and
demurely drew from her pocket a large fan, the move-
ment causing the exposure of a pair of strong gauntlet
gloves that had been concealed beneath, and which im-
mediately protruded from their hiding-place, to the no
small amusement of her companions.
A short distance beyond the town Hilda's wish was
gratified : she had ' the reins in her hand, and a clear
road before her/' the horses were with difficulty re-
strained to a moderate pace, and they reached the end
of the first stage in the most satisfactory manner. Here
the escorting officei* required fresh^horses : the innkeeper,
however, positively asserting that he had none in his
stables, the journey was continued in the same manner
as before, and for the pleasure of driving Hilda was
easily induced to accompany them a few miles farther;
but the slower pace which consideration for the horses
* The author feels at liberty to make use of this lady's name and
adventures, as she was (what is in Germany called) ** bom a Taut-
phoeus," and distantly related by marriage to the author. Circum-
Btanoes soon after made her gray horses historical, if one may so call
the mention of them in most of the histories and memoirs of those
times.
86S AT ODPS.
obliged her to adopt, and a somewhat monotonQas road
throagh a wood, soon made her begin to think of the
retam home which would have to be effected with tired
post-horses. She resigned the reins to the coachman,
and, turning towards the carriage, bent down and told
Madame d'Epplen that she should now take leave and
try to reach Innsbruck early, that her mother might not
be uneasy about her.
While they were still speaking, som6 dark figures
began to move about beneath the trees nearest the
road, and almost immediately afterwards the officer
who was in the calecho, that had hitherto followed them,
drove up, and. turning for a moment to Madame d'Ep-
plen's coachman to desire him to follow, passed on,
loudly commanding his postillion to proceed at all
hazards.
Hilda looked round and saw a number of armed
peasants assembled at the entrance of a rough path
leading from the road to the mountains. The caleche
before them had suddenly stopped, in consequence of
the postillion having refused to urge his horses any
longer, and Madame d'Epplen's grays, alarmed either
at the loud voices or angry gesticulations of the pea-
sants, and impeded in their progr^s by the carriage
before them, commenced rearing, plunging, and kicking,
until the leaders got their legs fairly over the traces,
when the continuance of their restive movements was
ended by the surrounding peasants catching the reins
and forcibly holding their heads steady.
"Do they intend to rob or murder us?" asked
Madame d'Epplen, a good deal alarmed.
I don't know," answered Hilda, ' but resistance is
out of the question. Doris says these peasants are
quite unlike Italians or Spaniards: so perhaps they
only want us for hostages!" Every trace of
CONTAINING MORE FACT THAN FICTION. 868
color forsook her face, however, when a desperately,
bearded peasant held up his hand to assist her descent,
and as soon as she was within reach lifted her uncere-
moniously in his arms to the ground.
Meantime the officer vainly endeavored to explain
the unlawfulness of waylaying harmless travelers, and
received for answer that his harmlossness was not quite
evident.
"Then keep me prisoner, but let these ladies con-
tinue their journey."
" We'll keep you and your dispatches, and the ladies
into the bargain."
" And the horses too,'' added a man who seemed to
understand their worth, and had assisted the coachman
in putting the harness into order.
" As to this young lady," continued the officer, point-
ing to Hilda, " you had better take care how you treat
her. She intended to return to Innsbruck this evening,
and is the wife of an Austrian officer."
The peasant addressed grinned from ear to ear. " Fm
no hare of this year," he said, " and you'll require long
to persuade me that she's the wife of any one yet. Dare
say there's many an Austrian officer who'd have no ob-
jection to take her if she hadn't already set her heart
on a Bavarian, ^yourself, perhaps ?"
While the carriage was being deprived of its cases,
Hilda contrived unobserved to get near the caldche in
which she was to have returned home, and called out in
English to Doris's old nurse, who sat in it petrified with
horror at the scene before her, " Janet, try to get away
while they are not minding you, and tell my mother
not to be alarmed, as I think if she consult our landlord
he may be able to prociire an order for our release from
one of the peasant commanders. Tou can easily de-
scribe where we have been stopped; and don't forget to
80
864 AT ODDS.
mention the costame of these men^ who^ I think^ are
from Yintsohgau."
Some of the peasants, naturally enough suspecting
treachery when they heard a foreign language, imme-
diately insisted on Hilda's returning to her compa^
nions; but she had the satisfaction to perceive that, in
obedience to the directions given by Janet, the postillion
managed soon after to turn the caleche noiselessly on
the grass, and then quite unheeded commence his jour-
ney homewards.
Before long Hilda and her friends were on their way
up the side of the mountain. Had it been an excursion
planned for amusement, she might have enjoyed it
exceedingly, for the narrow road was picturesque in the
extreme. The openings in the wood discovered wild
masses of rock, beyond which at intervals high peaks,
still covered with unthawed winter snow, glittered
brightly in the afternoon sun. Part of the way had
oeen made by blasting the rocks in the side of the
mountain, so that the steep ascent was made evident
by a wooded precipice descending to one of those small
streams that, as is usual -between mountains, was com-
posed of a succession of diminutive waterfalls and pools
of clear green water.
After a couple of hours' walking, it occurred to the
peasants that " the women" might require rest, and it
was intimated to them that they were at liberty to
choose a place of repose. Hilda, Madame d'Epplen,
and her little daughter were soon seated, the servants
also at some distance, but the officer preferred striding
backwards and forwards as if on guard, casting furious
sidelong glances at the more erudite peasants who were
endeavoring to decipher his general's dispatches, while
others, to the scarcely less great annoyance of Madame
d'Bpplen's maid, had undertaken an inspection of the
CONTAIKINO MOBS FAOT THAN TICTIOK. tt&
contents of the yarioas carriage-cases, a proceeding
that in a short time gave their resting-place a provoke
ingly ludicrous appearance.
What the peasants expected to find it is hard to say,
hut it soon became evident that the examination of per-
fame-bottles and pomatum-pots was deeply interesting
to all^ for they crowded around the man who held a
dressing-box on his knee, whispering, nodding, nudging
each other, and glancing significantly towards Madame
d'Epplen and Hilda.
" Have you any money or trinkets in your dressing-
box r asked Hilda.
' No : they can find nothing but combs, brushes, and
some new perfumes that I received last week from Le-
febvre in Paris."
That was it. An enlightened Tyrolean who was able
to read printed French letters had discovered the name
of the then most celebrated perfumer in Paris on so
many bottles and boxes, that without fhrther considera-
tion he had come to the conclusion that the well-known
and much-dreaded name was also that of the possessor
of the box, who consequently could be no other than
the wife of Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzic, or " The Dan*
aiger," as he was familiarly called by them."*
Madame d'Epplen's explanations were unable to dis-
pel this error; they thought her denying her name
under the circumstances so natural, that they only
shook their heads incredulously, and tried to calm her
anxiety by assurances that they would not lay to her
charge the faults of her husband, and that personally
she had nothing to fear but imprisonment until she
might serve as an exchange for some one of equal im-
portance.
Fact.
8S0 AT OBM.
'*I shaQ avoid PanBian perfames and pomatum in
ftiture," she observed, turning to Hilda; "although I
know that a mistake of this kind is not likely ever to
occur again. It would be amusing if it were not so pro-
voking, but I can now only hope we have not much
farther to walk in order to reach our destination for the
night."
"Dear mamma/' cried lilllo Babette, springing on
before them, " don't you like this road ? I think it is so
pretty I and these good-natured men have gathered me
Buch a lot of flowers/'
But in the end the pretty road appeared long even to
Babette^ for it was evening before it brought them to
the place where they were to pass the night. This was
an isolated village situated in a sort of hollow between
the summits of one range of mountains and the bases
^f another. Such places are not uncommon in the valley
of the Inn, though few are at such a height as the
one that suddenly surprised the wearied pedestrians as
they left the deep shade of a pine wood, and saw the
setting sun reflected brightly in the round-paned glass
of the windows of a church, the large dimensions of
which unconsciously led to the supposition that the
parish was of considerable extent. Yet the houses in
the village itselif were few and far apart, and the inn
alone conspicuous, very satisfactorily matching the
church in size, though only presenting its gable to the
road, but this front was furnished with a wide entrance-
gate, numerous rows of small windows, and three bal-
conies of different dimensions.
"Who would have expected to find such a church
and house up here?" exclaimed Madame d'Epplen.
Pray, what is the name of this place V she asked,
turning to a man who advanced from the inn to meet
them.
CONTAININQ MOES I'ACT THAN FICTiaN. 857
" I don't know," was the answer.
*' I mean your village."
" I don't know," he repeated.
^'Mj uniform has impaired his memory," said the
officer, who was walking beside her ; " this is the answer
we get everywhere since we entered Tyrol; and, ex-
cepting a few old men and women, we seldom find any
one even to ask such useless questions."
' Perhaps I shall discover a more communicative soul
within^" said Madame d'Epplen, walking straight into
the house; but, as she was passing the stairs on her
way to the kitchen, she and her companions were, civilly,
bat firmly, requested to mount them, then shown into a
very large room, and the door closed and locked.
" I really began to forget that I was a prisoner," said
Madame d'Epplen, seating herself on one of the benches
and putting her hat on one of the long deal tables that
formed the chief furniture of the room; " but they need
not have locked us up here, for we are not very likely to
think of attempting an escape."
" Why not ?" asked the officer, walking* from one
window to the other, and examining them carefully.
^* I shall certainly try the balcony as soon as it is dark."
Hilda smiled.
"Have you courage to make the attempt with me?"
he asked, in a low voice.
^ Bather let me inquire if you have bespoken a ladder
of ropes and ordered post-horses," she replied, jestingly :
^^ the necessary quantity of moonlight is provided, and
about midnight we may noiselessly open this casement !"
"Tou are right," he said, turning away; **for if we
have moonlight the attempt would be absurd: had it
been dark, I could have swung myself down from the
balcony, and brought you the ladder that is in the char*
coal-shed under the trees."
AT ODM.
' I did not know the plan was so feasible,'' said Hilda;
'* but is it not more than probable that all these windows
will be watehed daring the night ?"
'^Undoubtedly; but a peasant-sentinel sits down,
smokes his pipe, drinks his wine, and &lls asleep I"
**That alters the ease," she said, thoughtftilly; "and,
short as our imprisonment has been, I can imagine few
things more tiresome than a continnanee of it. I know
that, had I come here voluntarily, there is every proba-
bility that, after such a long walk, I should have remained
sitting quietly in this room for an hour or two very con-
tentedly : now I long to step on the balcony or into the
eorridor, I wish to speak to those children playing on the
grass, and I should greatly like to look at the church
and visit the churchyard."
"I should rather visit the kitchen/' said Madame
d'Epplen, who had joined them unperceived, *' and try
to get something to eat after our long walk. I am afiaid
they intend to send us to bed supperless.''
Her fears were groundless ; but after a repast of cold
mutton, maize-bread, and Tyrolean wine, as if they had
become suspicious of the intentions of the officer and dis-
trusted his apparent resignation, the peasants removed
him to a back room, the small window of which was
well secured with bars of iron, while Madame d'Epplen,
her daughter, and Hilda were conducted to a moderate-
sized ordinary bedroom, and merely informed that a
fierce watch-dog prowled about the house all night, and
they had better remain as quiet as possible.
This injunction was quite unnecessary; for from their
windows they saw groups of armed peasants approaching
the inn in all directions, as if by appointment, and it soon
became evident that the house was a place of assembly
to the neighborhood.
''Already more than two hundred," said Hilda, as she
CONTAINING MOfiS FACT THAN TIOTION. 859
leaned her fi;xehead against the window and strained her
eyes to coant the moving figures : " I suppose it was on
their account we were turned out of the large room
opposite; but it will not hold the half of them I"
^^'I suppose they will put benches and tables in the
lobby/' observed Madame d'Epplen, ' and in that case
we have not much chance of being able to sleep for
hoars to come, if at all ; for these men will become in-
toxicated and make a frightful noise, you may depend
upon it !"
"They may make a noise," said Hilda; "but Doris
has assured me they can drink a marvelous quantity
of wine without its having any perceptible effect on
them/'
" Well, my dear, I hope your sister may be right; but
she seems to me to have rather romantic ideas about
Tyrol and its inhabitants. The people are handsome,
and the dress is picturesque; but I can assure you that
a Tyrolean peasant who has had too much wine, and a
Bavarian who^has drunk too much beer, have a very
strong resemblance to each other, and I would rather
not see either of them."
"There is no danger," said Hilda; " for it is getting
dark, and no one seems to think we require light."
Yet a sort of light came of itself; for the moon had
risen, though not so high as to be visible in places so
surrounded by mountains. This moonlight without
moon, so peculiar to these regions, gives an indescribably
lasterless tone to the landscape, which becomes almost
depressingly gloomy if the adjacent mountains happen
to be thickly wooded.
Hilda turned from the window and began to make
some observations to this effect, but Madame d'Epplen's
thoughts were evidently with the peasants on the lobby
outside the door, who were now drinking the health of
800 AT ODDS.
their emperor and the Archdukes Carl and John very
vociferously.
"I am sure," she said, in answer, "I wish the moon
would shine brightly enough to tempt them to leave the
house and finish their revel out-of-doors."
At this moment the door was opened, and several men
clustered round it, and loet^ced into the room.
" Do you want any thing?" asked Madame d'Bpplen,
advancing resolutely.
No one moved or seemed disposed to answer.
" I hope you will allow me to shut the door again,"
she continued : " we are very tired, and greatly in need
Of rest."
A man who had jumped on a table behind the others
now called out, " Don't mind her: it's the young woman
he wants I"
This remark and the laughing applause that followed
it were not calculated to reassure Hilda ; but, instead of
timidly hiding from the numerous pairs of black eyes
instantly turned towards her, she came forward, cast a
hasty glance at the lock of the door, and then closed it
with all her force in the face of the jocular peasants,
who were ostentatiously preparing to make way for
her.
" We ought to have done this before," she said, shoving
the stiff bolt forward.
" I believe we ought not to have done it now," replied
Madame d'Bpplen, drawing back as the men outside
began to thump and kick the door while loudly demand-
ing entrance.
The noise brought others to the scene of action, and
a tumult ensued which seemed so dangerous to the land-
lord of the inn that he sent his wife to request the priest
to come to his aid, and soon after Hilda and Madame
d'Bpplen perceived a sudden cessation of host/lities;
CONTAINING MORI VAOT THAN nOTION. 861
heavy feet still tramped backwards and forwards, but
no one tonched their door; eager voices talked loudly,
and even angrily, bat no one demanded entrance, until,
after a moment of complete silence, a low knock at the
door was followed by the intimation that ^^his reverence
himself was there, and wished to speak to the ladies."
' We must admit him," said Madame d'Epplen, draw*
ing back the bolt; and a moment afterwards a somewhat
austere-looking man entered the room, and bowed with
all the exaggerated stateUness of manner that had pro-
cured him the unbounded respect and admiration of his
parishioners. Self-esteem, love of approbation, and firm*
ness were evident in his figure, his walk; and the ex*
presaion of his features; and though he allowed the pea-
sants to look into the room, he waved them from the
immediate vicinity of the door with an air of dignity
that would have suited a theatrical representative of
royalty.
'^I have the honor to address Madame Lefebvre "
he began.
Madame d'Epplen explained, and related what had
occurred.
He listened attentively. A strange mistake," he said,
''and one that must be rectified, as we make a great
distinction between French and Bavarian. May I ask
if you are a Christian? ^I mean a Eoman Catholic
Christian V
She was fortunately able to give him the most satis-
factory assurances on this subject.
' Excuse my questioning you, but it is well known
that many Bavarians are Protestants, ^that is, here-
tics 1"
Madame d'Epplen did not think it necessary to men-
tion that Hilda came under this denomination, but
allowed him, without even a qualm of conscience, to
31
862 AT ODB0.
include her in the blessing which he bestowed on them
with solemnly-raised arms and eyes that, after a glance
upwards, turned impressively towards the peasants in
the distance.
** Mademoiselle, or madame/' he then said, turning to
Hilda, "may I beg you to follow me into another room
for a few minutes?''
Hilda seemed so very unwilling to comply with this
request that he continued, *' I have merely some ques*
tions to ask you; but they must be answered before
witnesses,'' and then added, enbouragingly, ^Tou
have nothing to fear: these questions concern another
person. *
Hilda walked to the door, and the peasants outside
moved silently backwards to let her and the priest pass
them, ^immediately afterwards, however, following in a
dense crowd to the large room at the other side of the
lobby.
''You all," said the priest, in a loud voice, to the assem-
bled peasants, ^'you all heard the young man's asser-
tions, and his appeal to this young lady to prove the
truth of them. You shall now hear her evidence; but,
even should she prove him to be a spy, you have no
right to take the law into your own hands; the Inan
must be conveyed safely to your commander-in-chief,
Andrew Hofer, and that without delay, this night."
Hilda heard a murmur of consent, and felt a painful
consciousness that her words, for some mysterious
reason, were likely to be of vital importance.
The priest drew a paper from his pocket, and ad-
dressed her: ^**Do you know any one any officer-
likely to incur the risk of following you here ?"
Hilda thought of Emmeran ; but, remembering that
he could scarcely leave Innsbruck just then, she replied,
** No," with tolerable composure.
CONTAINING MOBS FACT THAN FICTION.
*^ Tet there is a yoang man now in this house who as-
serts that he has come here solely on your account. Ls
Btory is plansible, though somewhat eccentric; but the
Buspicion that he is a spy is strong, and you alone can
remove it/'
' Np one that I know would act as a spy/' said Hilda
*^ Then let us suppose he came here on your account
who is he?"
" I do not know/'
' Bemember/' said the priest, '^ that in acknowledging
him you can remove the distrust of the people here, and
relieve the young man in question from a very equivocal
position/'
Perhaps/' said Hilda, I may be able to do so when
jon tell me his name or let me see him/'
" I cannot do either, as yet," answered the priest; '' we
fear that to save an acquaintance and countryman from
a disagreeable detention you might join him in trying
to persuade us he was the person he calls himself/'
Hilda entered no protest against this accusation.
" Excuse my speaking so plainly," continued the priest;
* but establishing the identity of this officer, as he calls
himself, is of great importance to us, as he is, or pre-
tends to be, the bearer of glorious news : he tells us that
Napoleon has been completely defeated at Aspem, his
pontoons carried away by the flooding of the Danube,
so that the present position of the French in the island
of Lobau is very critical/'
Hilda listened with evident interest, and looked up
inquiringly, longing to hear more.
^ This officer coming here in a sort of disguise," said
the priest, turning as if for corroboration to the pea-
sants, naturally inspires the people with suspicion:
they think be might have heard all this in Innsbruck, or
that the whole story may be an invention to dispose us
364 AT ODDS.
&Torably towards him. I tnut, however, your answers
to my qaestions will be of a nature to confirm all that
the young man has said, and that we may rejoice with-
out a doubt to damp our exultation/' Here he walked
to the only candle in the room, and, after letting the
light fall on the paper in his hand, he looked up, aud
startled Hilda by the question, .
"Are you married?"
"Yes."
How long?"
Nearly four years."
'^ Where and when did the ceremony take place?"
"In XJlm, in the year 1806."
" Where is your husband now ?"
''Near Vienna: perhaps he was at Aspern. I wish I
could hear of him."
" Is he in the army."
'' Yes, in a hussar regiment,"
jAnd the name of the colonel of this re^ment 7"
Hilda paused, and then, with deepened color, answered,
Bereny."
* ' Your husband's ndme ?"
Prank O'More."
A murmur of satisfaction from the assembled peasants
rather bewildered than encouraged Hilda. The priest
waved his hand majestically.
There is nothing proved as yet," he said, solemnly:
"any acquaintance of the young lady's might have
stated these circumstances, which are probably well
known to many people. Is not this the case ?" he added,
appealing to Hilda.
" They are known to my relations and Mends," she
answered.
" Just so ; a brother or cousin, for instance ?"
" I have no brother."
CONTAININQ MOBl FAOT THAN FICTIOK. 365
''Then let us saj eaoBin; I think he said he was a
cousin too !"
Hilda became uneasj; she feared that Emmeran
might actually have had the rashness to attempt her
rescue. Such an adventure was unlike an act of his;
but what would he not do to spare Doris a moment's
anxiety ?
^Oan you describe his appearance V asked the priest.
^ How can I, without knowing of whom you are speak-
ing 1" she rejoined, quickly.
Folding his arms slowly, and fixing his eyes on her
face as if to watch the effect of his words, the priest at
length thought proper to explain. " This man/' he said,
'' has a passport, in which he is named Myer, horse-
dealer; and this he says was given him to facilitate his
passage through various detachments of the French
army. That he is an officer, and not a horse-dealer, I
have myself no doubt; but his coming here instead of
going direct with his important intelligence to Andrew
Hofer ^resigning to a brother officer who traveled with
him the honor of being the first to announce the victory
at Aspem can only be accounted for by your actually
being, as he asserts, his wife I"
''Do you mean," cried Hilda, 'Hhat this officer has
said he is my husband F"
"Yes," answered the priest; ''and he imagines he haa
a right to demand your being set at liberty as well as
himself, that you may return together to Innsbruck."
"Oh, let me go to him!" she cried, endeavoring to
pass without further questioning.
' Stay," he said, with unruffled dignity : "you now know
of whom I am speaking, and I therefore expect you to
prove the truth of his assertion by giving a description
of his person."
"He is very handsome " she began, hurriedly.
81
865 AT ODM.
Some yonthflil laughter became audible in the lobby.
Hilda blushed crimson.
The priest looked in the direction of the door, frowned
reprovingly, and then blandly observed, ''There are dif-
ferent kinds of beauty : some think emaciated fciir-haired
men handsome, while others "
Hilda stopped aghast. Emmeran was fair-haired, and
justtheu remarkably emaciated. Gonfdsed, disappointed,
and alarmed, she turned away, nnwilUng to expose her
trembling lips and tearful eyes to so many observers:
both, however, had beta seen by the priest, and his
voice was compassionate when he again spoke.
**I am very sorry,'' he said, ''that these precautions
are necessary; but I really must request a description
of your husband's person in order to remove the doubts
of these people. Is he tall?"
Hilda remained silent, and continued to look out of
the window to which she had retreated, determined at
least not to injure Emmeran by her evidence.
^' Dark-haired f" persisted the priest.
No answer.
' Perhaps you will at least describe a wedding-ring
that he showed me, and which he said was peculiar
enough to identify him?"
Hilda turned round instantly, and, flushed with fresh
hope, described the ring found in the vault of the Chapel-
island.
"Quite right," observed the priest, referring to his
paper of notes; "and the name engraved inside you can
of course also tell us?"
"It was Waldering of Westenried," answered Hilda:
"the ring had been my father's, and the name was his."
"It would be impossible to doubt any longer," said
the priest, in a loud voice, "and I do not hesitate to pro-
claim my firm belief of all that the Austrian officer has
A WHIM. S67
told ns. Give him some of the best wine in the bi.nse|
to drink the health of cor Emperor and the Archduke
OharloB; and then let him depart in peace with his wife,
whenever he pleases."
These words were followed by a tnmnltuous rush of
peasants down the stairs. The priest stood for a moment,
expecting perhaps some deferential movement on the
part of Hilda; but, on perceiving that she sat down and,
leaning her elbows on the nearest table, covered her ikce
with her hands, he strode haughtily ont of the room and
turned the key in the lock, ^perhaps to remind her that
she was a prisoner until he chose to permit her release.
CHAPTER XXXV.
A WHIM.
The room was not improved in appearance since Hilda
had first seen it some hours previously. Disorderly
rows of half-emptied wine-bottles and glasses stood on
the long deal tables, broken crusts of bread were strewed
aronnd, wooden benches upset, and a strong odor of bad
tobacco contaminated the atmosphere. Was it the latter
which caused the feeling of suffocation that made her
open a window and gasp for breath? She tried to think
so, but was, unfortunately, given time to ventilate the
room and convince herself of the contrary. There was
much shouting, and probably drinking, below^stairs :
perhaps Frank could not get away from the people there.
StiU it was very possible that he was less anxious for a
meeting than she was. '^Should she let him perceive
this ? Certainly not. She would remember her promise
to Doris never again to repulse him; but after all that
368 AT 0DB8.
had occmred he could not expect any actual demonstra-
tion of rejoicing on her part." And Hilda drew up her
Blight figure to its most dignified height, and began de-
liberately to harden her heart.
This dilatoriness on the part of Frank was most inju-
dicious : it gave Hilda time to remember that they had
parted in anger, that he had braved her displeasure by
going to Meran with Madame de Bereny, had in fiiot
giyen her so much cause to be offended that she imagined
she had a right to expect some show of penitence on his
part before she could forgive without reserve. A quick
step on the stairs brought her cogitations to an abrupt
conclusion, and made her heart beat so violently that it
was absolutely a relief when she became aware its direc-
tion was towards Madame d'Epplen's room. But the
delay was short. After a few returning steps across the
lobby, the key turned in the lock, the door of her room
opened, and she started up to place herself rigidly in
forced composure beside a chair, the back of which she
grasped to keep her tottering figure steady.
And all this trepidation had been endured, and this
great effort to conceal her heart-sinking made, for
a chambermaid, who entered unceremoniously, bringing
her the shawl and hat she had left in Madame d'Epplen's
room.
"You're to put these things on, and be ready when
he calls you," said the girl, throwing them on the table
beside Hilda : " I heard him say he had no time to lose,
for he wants to be with Andrew Hofer on Mount Isel
early in the morning."
A sudden revulsion of feeling made Hilda disposed to
rebel. "No, she would not put them on ; she would not
aid and abet in his joining Andrew Hofer. His sending
such a message, or any message, was unpardonable !"
The chambermaid collected a number of bottles and
A WHIM. 889
glaasoB on a tray, and, while careftilly carryiug the
clattering brittle ware oat of the room, omitted to lock
or even firmly close the door; and Hilda paused for a
moment to consider should she return to Madame
d'Epplen, or control her temper and await Frank's
coming. /It is strangsi that it never occurred to her that
he too might dread as much /is wish for a meeting; and
when the silence in the room permitted her to become
aware that some one was passing the balcony with lin-
gering uncertain steps, she never thought of him, but stood
deeply musing in the room until she heard her name pro-
nounced in a very lo^ voice, and on looking up saw
him standing at one of the windows that opened into
the balcony.
Hilda sprang forward in an irrepressible movement
of joy, and found the window at which he stood fortified
as it were with a nearly impervious row of those prickly
cactus that so very frequently decorate such windows
until the weather permit their removal to the balcony
itsel
It is possible, howevSr, that just then neither she nor
Frank had any objections to the interposition of these
plants : he peered through and over them without em-
barrassment, and Hilda's hand braved the danger of
thorns in a hurried endeavor to find an opening through
which it could meet his. The hand, of course, received
a very satisfactory portion of kisses before it was with-
drawn ; and so the dreaded meeting was over.
" Tou will return with me to Innsbruck, Hilda V
Ye es, if you wish it; though I have some qualms
of conscience at deserting Madame d'Epplen.''
'Tou need have none; I have explained who she is,
and a few days hence you will see her again safe under
Hofer's protection.*'
That is, a prisoner?" said Hilda.
70 AT OBDB.
' Well, I suppose so. Chances of war, you know. I
may be the same to-night if you do not assist me to pass
the Bavarian pickets.''
'^But I hope, Frank, you hay not put yourself into
real danger on my account 1 for, after all, I do not think
these peasants intended us any harm."
^I am sure they didn't," he answered; ^'but I could
not endure the idea of your being a prisoner and forced
to wander about on the mountains against your will."
" It was very kind of you," said Hilda.
Frank laughed.
''I heard you sacrificed the ^pleasure of being the
bearer of good news," she continued.
Not exactly, Hilda; for I had always intended my
comrade Stainer to be spokesman on this occasion, as
he is a Tyrolean, and ran the risk from the purest
patriotic motives;"" while I, after having ascertained that
there was no chance of further military movements for
some weeks, j)roposed accompanying him in order to
return to Innsbruck. We were furnished with pass-
ports giving us the professions if which we thought we
could best pass muster. Stainer chose to be supposed a
landscape-painter, and I -"
''The priest told me that you represented a horse-
dealer," said Hilda.
" I do so still," he answered : " have you any objec-
tion to walk down to the valley with such an ill-dressed
fellow?"
" None whatever, by moonlight," said Hilda, gayly;
" only let me first take leave of Madame d'Epplen, and
tell her she. need be under no further apprehensions
either about me or herself.'*
A short time afterwards they descended the stairs
Fact.
A WHIM. 871
together, and left the inn amidst the respectftil greet*
ings of a dense crowd of peasants.
When out of sight, and walking down the narrow
road at a rapid pace, Frank told Hilda that he had met
Janet on her way home in a state of great anxiety, had
sent a message to his aant by her, and then strack off
at once into the mountains. 'I had no difficulty in
finding you,'' he added, ''for an innkeeper who knew
Stainer told me there was to be a meeting of riflemen
in this direction to-night, and the party who took
Madame d'Epplen prisoner were on their way here/'
"I wonder what they have done with her horses?"
said Hilda.
They are to be sent to Hofer* as soon as afElnirs have
taken a decided tnrn.l'
And when will that be ?"
'* To-morrow or the day after, I hope."
" Ton don't mean to say, Prank, that you expect the
peasants to gain any advantage over General Deroy ?"
'' I mean that the general has not been left half enough
troops to enable him to maintain his position, and that
even his eminent military talent will scarcely save him
from the fate of Bisson."
" I won't 1 can't believe that 1" cried Hilda, vehe-
mently.
''Well, I dai^e say I am mistaken," said Frank, good-
humoredly: "perhaps we shall be defeated, and I may
be a prisoner of Deroy's, an inmate of the hospital, or a
corpse for the churchyard, about this time to-morrow."
" Frank, if I had known this, I would not have left
the inn !" she cried, stopping suddenly; " but I can go
back again, for you told me you could not well pass the
* Thejr were used on state occasions by Andrew Hofer, during
the imprisonment of Madame d'Epplen ; but he returned them to
her in good condition at a later period.
872 AT ODDS.
Baymrimn pickets without my assistance; and I wonH
assist 70a to peril your life unnecessarily I"
While saying the last words, she tamed back and
began a resolnte reascent of the monntain. Frank fol-
lowed reluctantly, in ill-concealed wrath, and with lips
firmly pressed together. Hilda did not like this con-
strained silence, and when she spoke again there was
even more deprecation in her voice than words.
"You can easily imagine, Frank, how much I must
wish to return to Innsbruck and my mother : belieye
me, nothing but anxiety for your sidfety would induce
me to put myself again in the power of these peasants/'
' Bo not expect me to feel or feign any gratitude for
this proof of regard," he answered, ''or suppose me
more in your power than I actually am. With such a
passport as mine and these clothes, I could easily satisfy
the scruples of the officer on picket at the bridge ; and
I need scarcely tell you that there is nothing to prevent
me frOTCL taking the same way to Andrew Hofer as the
peasants to whom you are returning."
Hilda stood still, and the light of the moon, now high
above the mountains, fell full on her agitated &ce as she
exclaimed, bitterly, '' Oh, how could I be such a fool as
to suppose that I had any influence? I see it all now.
You have made a slight deviation from your way to
take me with you, but that is all. I shall go back to
Hadame d'Epplen, and will not embarrass you with my
presence when passing the officer on picket, or make
any useless, attempts to prevent you from crossing the
momitains should you prefer that mode of joining your
friends.''
''Hilda," said Frank, earnestly, "let me assure you
that I have taken .this opportunity of returning to Tyrol
solely for the purpose of seeing you again. We have
been very foolish, and given people an opportunity of
A WHIxM. 37.^
talking of faults on both sides, incompatibility of temper,
and so forth ; but, as I believe in the main joa rather
like me, and as I have discovered, daring our last sepa-
ration, how very much I like you, I have fully deter-
mined to avoid disputes of any kind in future. Now, it
it is evident that, for this purpose, one of us must yield,
and, as you will noty I have resolved to do so completely
and without reserve. Half-measures are, however, my
aversion, and therefore, with the exception of military
matters and my duty as a soldier, I put myself com-
pletely under your cojnmand, and promise the obedience
of a serf and the humility of a slave. Are you satisfied?"
Satisfied ? she was delighted, exultant ! but, with all
her love of power, Frank's manly, unreserved confession
of affection remained uppermost in her mind; and
when, blushing deeply, she placed her hand on his arm,
and with a very bright smile assured him he would not
find her so tyrannical as he supposed, she would have
greatly liked to seal the proposed compact with an
unreserved embrace.
That Frank himself felt strongly tempted to do so is
more than probable, at least there is no other way of
accounting for the sudden flush that passed across his
face, and the outstretched arm that for a moment seemed
inclined to place itself in the proper position for a waits
round the small moonlit space before them ; but he re-
frained, and with an affectation of modest reserve, though
with eyes betraying more mirth than he perhaps in-
tended, he drew back, saying, " I beg your pardon, Hilda;
I had almost forgotten that I am under restraint and
dare not offer a caress, though I may hope to receive
one occasionally when I deserve it."
Frank was a good actor, and his words and manner
instantly explained his intention to force her to make
advances, which he could receive in whatever manner
32
874 AT ODDS.
be pleased. She concealed her annoyance, however^ even
while giving it vent by instantly patting his patience
and obedience to the test.
' I shall now retnrn to Madame d'Epplen/' she said,
' but most forbid your leaving the village to-night with
the peasants who are about to join Hofer.'^
Frank gravely bowed acquiescence.
" Or," she continued, with some hesitation, " I believe
I should prefer your taking me bac^ to my mother
and then remaining with us/'
'' Impossible, Hilda. If I reach Innsbruck to-night^ I
must join my comrades on Mount Isel to-morrow. All
the officers now with Hofer are volunteers, and even my
slight military knowledge may be useful, as I happen to
be acquainted with the ground about the town/'
" Oh, very well/' she said, walking on. " If you think
your absence more satisfactorily accounted for by being
on the top of this mountain, I have nothing more to
say."
" Not so," he answered, quickly : '' it is that I consider
myself obliged to remain with you when you are the
prisoner of these peasants, no matter how well inten-
tioned they may be ; but you are a soldier's daughter
and a soldier's wife, Hilda, and ought to understand the
dilemma in which you are placing me I"
She did understand it perfectly, and, fearing to exas-
perate him by an abuse of the power given her, turned
round instantly. " I will not take upon myself the re-
sponsibility of leading you into danger," she said, slowly,
"and therefore prefer giving you leave to do as you
please in this instance."
" Thank you," said Frank, eagerly; " let us get on to
Innsbruck as fast as we can; I dare say the little vehicle
I bespoke is waiting for us already at the inn in the
valley."
A WHIM. S75
" Were you bo quite sure that I would return with
you V she asked, with some pique, accepting,.however,
his offered arm with a very good grace.
"Well, yes; I thought giving you fUll power would
have a good effect, and I was not mistaken. You would
not like people to say that I had shirked an engagement
when it came in my way, would you ?"
''No one would dare to say that of you," she cried,
indignantly.
Frank laughed, as if his apprehensions on that score
were not very great, and Hilda clasped her hands over
his arm while she continued, " But, really, Prank, your
fearlessness is now so well known that you can afford
to be more prudent; and you must promise to be so for
my sake."
'I begin to think that I bear a charmed life," he
answered, gravely; "for if ever wounds or early death
were to be my portion, I ran my greatest risk lately at
Aspem. Kot an officer of my regiment escaped, so that
when the last engagement ended I was in fUU command
of the few men who could be mustered."
" Was Colonel Bereny also wounded ?" she asked.
'' Dangerously, Hilda, and so hideously disfigured and
crippled that death would be a release to him."
Hilda shuddered, and was scarcely conscious of the
thought that prompted her next questions.
'* Did you write to his wife ? has she gone to him ?"
" No. Yienna is still occupied by the enemy, and he
knows too well the dangers and privations to which she
would be subjected to allow her to join him. Men can-
not have cannot even wish to have ^their wives with
them under such circumstances."
** I should certainly go to you, Prank, if I heart you
were wounded : no danger or privation should prevent
H7Q AT ODDS.
* And yet, Hilda, seeing joa beside my bed in the
ward of a militaxy hospital would cause me more pain
than pleasure."
Indeed V
"I should feel like poor Bereny, unwilling to let mj
wife run the risk of catching the fever always so pre-
valent in such places; I should dread your seeing the
horrible wounds But talking of wounds reminds me
ofEmmeran. How is he? What a lucky fellow to escape
the hospital and have you and Doris to take care of
himr
"Doris did take great care of him/' said Hilda; ''but
you have no idea how gallantly he behaved in that un-
expected insurrection."
'' Oh, yes : I know all about it ^ for my aunt wrote a
full account of every thing that occurred to Pallersberg.
Sigmund's death surprised us, of course ; but we felt no
regret, rather the contrary, I am afraid, as neither of us
had reason to like him; and there is no doubt that Em-
meran will be a more worthy chief for the family of
Waldering."
I think he will," said Hilda.
''My aunt flatters herself also," continued Frank,
'' that his political opinions are gradually changing, his
admiration of Napoleon quite on the wane."
"Doris's influence is great," said Hilda, in a low
vMce.
"Of course it is," he answered, thoughtfully; "but
less in politics than you suppose. Emmeran is one of
those who have been made adherents of the French by
circumstances, national feelings, and personal connec*
tions ; but he will see through the designs of Napoleon
as cleyly as any of us when the War is at an end."
"With all my heart I wish it were at an end I" mur-
mured Hilda, fervently.
* A WHIM. 877
" It is greatly to be desired/' answered Frank, " even
by those who most long for advancement and can only
obtain it sword in band ! Such, yon know, is my case ;
but, after the frightful loss of life I have so lately wit-
nessed, I can sincerely join in your wish. Perhaps peace
in the world would promote the same in our family, or
at least put an end to the political disputes which have
for some years helped to disunite us I A family more
at odds than we have been in this respect it would be
hard to find !"
"Very true," said Hilda; " but one cannot help having
political opinions, and it is hard not to express them
wlien not only witnessing but actually suffering from
the events taking place."
"I acknowledge," said Prank, "that it is sometimes
very hard to be silent. I felt it so when last in Inns-
bruck and unable to give you warning of the coming
revolt of Tyrol; I-feel it now, while exulting in a victory
I scarcely dare to mention lest a quarrel might be -the
consequence."
" Tell me all about your victory, Frank. I should like
to hear it."
He shook his head and remained silent.
"I should indeed," she continued, "and don't at all
mind hearing that the French have been defeated. I
only care for Bavarians now: you surely don't require
me to forget that I am Bavarian as well as English,
Frank?"
No, he did not require any thing so unreasonable; and
the result was most satisfactory. The rest of the way
down the mountain was beguiled by an animated ac-
count of the battle of Aspern, followed by a recital of
Frank's subsequent adventures during his journey to
Tyrol with Captain Stainer as joint bearer of important
82*
87^ AT ODDB.
intelligence thaV might have long been withheld finom
the pnblic hj a dilatory, timid, or ill-disposed post.
Frank had purposely made a deviation from the
narrow road, and by taking advantage of a steep foot-
path not only shortened the way, bat u^ianaged to emerge
from the wood at a small inn situated in the valley,
where he had ordered a peasant's market-cart and horse
to be in readiness for him.
" I cannot propose your resting here, Hilda,*' he said,
adrancing to the closed door of the house and knocking
loudly, ^'for we have no time to lose; but I must ask
you to wait a few minutes while I metamorphose myself
into a farm-servant, as in that capacity I shall have to
drive you into Innsbruck/^
The door was opened,' and a sleepy hostler mitde his
appearance : on recognizing Frank, however, he turned
towards the stable, and brought out a horse ready
harnessed, Hilda meantime sitting on a bench before^
the door, feeling strangely confused and happy. She
scarcely observed a man who afterwards ran out of the
house and spoke^o the hostler, until she saw him take
some dust from the road and deliberately throw it over
his hair, then dip his bands in the spring and rub them
with some clay, during the latter operation taking care
to give his nails a sufficient quantity of mud ; but when
the same man walked towards her with the bent knees
and slouching gait of a mountaineer, she could scarcely
believe it was Frank, so perfect was his personification
of a peasant, so complete the change in his appearance
that had been effected in the space of a few minutes.
"I should have looked better if I had borrowed a
Sunday suit,'' he said, smiling at her astonishment ; '' but
it would not have answered my purpose so well. I am
afraid you think me very ugly and rather dirty in this
guise."
A WHIM. 879
'^Clay is clean dirt, Frank, and will, I hope, enable
yon to pass the Bavarian pickets without question.
Won't you sit beside me in the cart? there is room
enough on the seat for us both/'
' Yon forget that I am Franz the hostler's son/' he
answered, laughing; and I must sit on this plank at
yonr feet and allow my legs to dangle in close proximity
to my horse's tail."
An awkward place, Frank, if he were disposed to
kick ; and he has no blinkers, nor, in fact, almost any
harness I"
'He wants nothing but traces to take us to Inns-
bruck," was J'rank's reply, as he placed himself on
what might be supposed the footboard of the seat. " You
shall see how we drive in this part of the world," he
added ; and, seizing the reins, he flapped them up and
down two or three times, while he muttered a few gut-
tural words of encouragement, and the horse imme-
diately started off at a good hard trot.
Strange to say, the road appeared shorter to Hilda in
that jolting vehicle by moonlight than when seated oa
the box of Madame d'Epplen's well-built carriage in the
morning, and she could hardly believe they were ap-
proaching the much-dreaded picket when Frank ex-
claimed, " Now, Hilda, here we are; tell the truth with
reserve, and avoid delay as much as possible; you must
take my purse and passport, however, for both \rould
be incumbrances to the stupid lout I intend to represent
for the next quarter of an hour." And while speaking;
he rounded his shoulders, bent still more forward his
head, and gave to his handsome features an expression
of supremely dull indifference. When ordered to halt,
he did so slowly, contriving to pass the officer some
yards, and then employed himself disentangling the lash
880 AT OlMDS.
of his whip while receiving the merited reprimand finr
his dilatory obedience.
Hilda fortunately happened to know the officer on
picket, and told him of Madame d'Epplen's and her own
capture by the peasants, adding that she owed her re-
lease to the circumstance of her being the wife of an
Austrian officer, and that she was now on her way home. '
" And the name of the village where Madame d'Bp-
plen is now detained ?'' asked the officer.
" We could not find it out," she answered, " for not one
of the people there would tell us."
" Of course not. But," he added^ pointing to Frank,
*^this smart coachman of yours may know it. I say, my
lad, can you tell me where this lady came from?"
"Innsbruck," answered Frank, biting industriously
at a knot in the lash of his whip.
" I mean where she came from to-night."
Frank named the inn where they had procured the
market-cart ; and the officer would have been satisfied
if some one had not explained that the place named was
in the valley and close to the river inn.
'I am afraid you will find him very stupid," said
Hilda.
" A Tyrolean is more frequently cijnning than stupid,"
replied the officer, ' and his answers make me suspect
he knows more than he chooses to tell. If it were not
for the fear of inconveniencing you, I should like ex-
tremely to retain him until we find out Madame d'Ep-
plen's place of imprisonment."
" Oh, pray let him take me into Innsbruck !" said
Hilda : '' my mother and sister must be in a great state
of anxiety about me, and you can obtain the informa-
tion you require from any good map. The village, I
think, lies higher than what is called the Middle Moun-
tains; but before any one can be sent Madame d'Epplen
A WHIM. 381
will hftve left it, for they told her she mast get up at
daybreak, and it will soon be that now V
^^ Yery true/' said the officer, looking eastwards ; " and
I have no one to send in pursuit; nor would it be of any
use, for the peasants are assembling in thousands, and
can do what they please just at present. 6ood-night, or
good-morning, madame I I hope you may reaoh home
without further impediment."
. Not long afterwards they were rattling over the pave*
ment of Innsbruck ; and, turning into the street that
ended their journey, Frank's eyes glanced along the
fronts of the houses, and he exclaimed, " Just as I ex-
pected, ^neither my aunt nor Doris have gone to bed ;
their windows are open, and they are looking out for
ns. I hope some one will come to hold the horse, so
that I may go up-stairs for a few minutes."
The entrance-gate ^as wide open, and the whole
family assembled to meet them. Frank's dress when
he unconsciously assumed his own manner caused a
good deal of mirth, in which he joined, even while de*
daring that he had not time to amuse himself. He had
left a uniform in Innsbruck, and now required it for im-
mediate use.
"There are other clothes of yours he ro " sug-
geeted Hilda.
" I must don the uniform nevertheless," he answered,
laughing: ' without it the peasants won't obey com*
mands, and I may have to make myself useful on Mount
Isel a few hours hence."
" Hilda will give it you," said his aunt.
And Hilda turned, reluctantly enough, towards her
room, followed by Frank, who lost no time in packing
the uniform, and whatever else he required, into a port-
manteau, which he sent down-stairs, and then said,cheer-
fhlly, " Farewell, Hilda, for a day or two, or more, as
h9Z AT ODDS.
the case may be : our next meeting depends 00 com-
pletely on the snccesB of a caaBe to which you are ill
disposed, that I scarcely know whether or not yon wish
to see me again V
Oh, Frank, how can yon talk so ?" ^
"Is it not tmef" he asked: " wiU seeing me console
yon for the defeat of the Bavarians now in and abont
Innsbrack V*
Hilda straggled hard for composure. '^ If it were a
French general or a French army '' she began.
" I perceive I shall only be half welcome/' he said^
good-hamoredly : " neverthelcBS, I hope to see you before
long again. And now, dear Hilda, we mnst take leave,
or rather yon mast take leave of me ; for yon nnder-
stood, of coarse, that, when I promised obedience and
hnmility^ all demonstrations of regard mast hencefor-
ward proceed from you !"
" Nonsense, Frank.*'
'^ I am serious, Hilda : you have openly scorned me
before all the world here, and I now, as a sort of com-
pensation, expect you to make love to me with equal
ostentation."
" I am sure you expect nothing of the kind, Frank ;
you know as well as I do that it would be very im
un ^maidenly 1"
Frank's color mounted to his temples. "Perhaps,
then, Hilda," he said, hesitatingly, " we bad better make
some arrangement for occasions like the present; for
instance, I have, you know, promised to obey you im-
plicitly, and if you order me to kiss you, or any thing
of that kind, ril doit r
" I am afraid you must wait a long time for any such
order from me, Frank," she replied, secretly enjoying
his embarrassment, and with difficulty restraining a
laugh.
A VOW. 383
^' Oh, as loBg as 70a please/^ he retorted; with some
pique : " I renew my promise of obedience to any ex-
tent, and only wish we had more time to expend on this
sort of foolery. Bemember^ the next proposal must
come from yoa: meantime^ adieu T'
Hilda foUowed him to the door, and watched with
some chagrin his unreserved leave-taking of her mother
and sister; the moment, however, that he tamed to the
stairs, she ran back into her room, and threw one of the
windows wide open, jnst in time to see him spring into
the market-cart| and then, looking up towards her,
flourish his hat in the air.
^He is not offended, after all" she murmured, with
great satisfaction; 'and when he comes back he wiU
perhaps have forgotten this tiresome whim !''
CHAFFEE XXXVI.
A tow.
HiiiDA was still in her mother's room, talking over the
events of the last four-and-twenty hours, when Emmeran
returned from a mountain in the neighborhood, where,
as a person well acquainted with the country, he had
accompanied General Deroy when reconnoitering in that
direction. As Emmeran's absence had prevented him
from hearing of Hilda's imprisonment, he listened with
equal surprise and interest to all she had to relate,
seemed to consider Frank's arrival and the account of
the battle of Aspem very important intelligence, and
said that, though much fktigued, he would return to
884 AT 0DD6.
head-qaarters and report the information he had ob-
tained.
"Stay!" cried Hilda: "yon mnst first ^ve me the
assurance that no pursuit of Frank will be attempted/'
"Do not be uneasy," he answered, smiling: "you
have not told me what direction he has taken, and I do
not want to know it. Frank's words admit of no donbt;
Napoleon has lost a battle, and to us the certainty that
we can entertain no hopes of reinforcements from Le-
febvre may be of great consequence."
"Then," said Hilda, " Frank was right, after all, when
he said a capitulation was inevitable : he spoke of Greneral
Bisson, who was nearly in the same position, you know,
last April ^*'
"Deroy is not Eisson," said Emmeran, confidently;
" though Lefebvre has certainly put his military talents
to a hard proof by leaving him such an insufficient force
to keep possession of a country like Tyrol. This second
insurrection has been kept nearly as secret as the first,
and we find it utterly impossible to procure any sort of
information concerning the movements of the peasants.
I therefore felt no sort of uneasiness about youj but
then I never dreamed of your going beyond our outposts
with Madame d'Bpplen I"
" I ought not to have done so," said Hilda, " as it has
turned out ; however, it is of no importance. A night's
rest lost : that's all."
"Take a day's rest instead," suggested Emmeran,
preparing to leave the room : " I shall do so too, ^if I .
can."
Hilda thought the advice good, and slept until dis-
turbed by the report of cannon in the direction of Mount
Isel. The continuation of such sounds soon roused her
completely; and, on going to her mother's room, she
found her and Doris in the state of restless anxiety that
A VOW. ass
Bh remembered they bad all felt bo frequently at Ufan.
The recollection, too, of what they had witnessed from
their windows daring the former insurrection recurred
vividly to their minds, and materially aided their fantasy
in bringing before them the scenes being enacted beyond
the town : so that, unable to cheer each other, the^ spent
the greater part of the day in wandering despondingly
from room to room, making futile attempts to employ at
least their hands when the combat seemed to flag, and
listening at intervals to the marvelous and improbable
aooounts of victory reported by their landlord and the
Austrian servants in the house, which were immediately
and stoutly contradicted by Hilda's Bavarian domestics,
whose information, however, was chiefly obtained from
soldiers in the act of carrying their wounded comrades
to the hospital.
It was undeniable that General Deroy was in a critical
position ; for, in addition to the whole country being in
insurrection, and volunteers daily increasing the numbers
of his opponents, his hopes of receiving supplies of am-
munition were extinguished, in consequence of all com-
munication with Bavaria having been cut off. These
facts being well known to the Tyroleans and the Aus-
trian officers commanding on Mount Isel, they towards
evening proposed a capitulation on the same terms that
had been accepted by the French two months previously.
But General Deroy was neither intimidated by his
difficulties nor urged to yield by his officers, as his pre-
decessor had been : he refused to capitulate, and would
only agree to a four-and-twenty hours' truce; which,
however, was declinedt The day, however, had drawn
to a close during the negotiations, and by mutual con-
sent hostilities ceased on both sides with the waning
light, ^the Tyroleans and Austrians trusting that the
next day would bring them complete victory.
33
SSA At ODDt.
It was on th evening of that day that Bmmeran
Boiaeleflsly entered the drawing-room in his aunt's apart-
ments, and walked straight to the so& on which Doris
was sitting.
*^ We heard joa were safe/' she said, looking np with
a smile; 'bot how fatigued yon mast be I And they
tell ns nothing is decided, and that the combat will
begin again to-morrow. We must not, therefore, think
of asking you any questions, for you ought to go to bed
and sleep as long as you can.''
"I believe you are right,*' he answered; "and you
would, at all events, feel little interest in hearing of our
various attacks and repulses on Mount Isel. At present
we have neither lost nor won, and may think ourselves
WeU off if matters remain so."
" You are talking enigmas,'' said Hilda, coming to
wards him : " what do you mean ?"
" I mean that we are in as perplexing a position as
can well be imagined, and that we have a great deal to
do and very little time to do it in," he answered, draw-
ing out his watch ; " so that I can scarcely allow myself
two hours' rest, and should then like you to give me
some supper before I leave you again."
'* Only two hours' rest for an invalid such as you
are I" exclaimed Hilda.
"I wish it were twelve instead of two," he answered;
" but I have no time to play invalid now, and must be
at head-quarters before midnight."
"In that case," said Doris, placing her watch on
the table before her, '*we must order you to bed at
once ; and I will promise to waken you when it is time
to get up."
"Thank you," said Bmmeran, cheerfully; * with you
on guard I have no doubt I shall be fast asleep in five
minutes."
A vov 9S7
Hild* foUowed him oat of the room.
^ Brnmentn/' she said, earnestly, may I ask why yon
mast leave us again at midnight ?"
He whispered the three words, "We must retreat j"
then placed his finger on his lips, and closed the door
of his room.
And Hilda returned to her sister, and watched her
pale, anxious face, without venturing unpermitted to
repeat the words that had tranquilized and pained her-
self^ in nearly equal proportions.
Iknmeran was wakened, sapped in haste, received
with evident satisfaction a parcel from Hilda, out of
which the neck of a field-flask protruded, and took
leave.
Doris,'' he said, lingering beside her for a moment,
' my usual scddier luck attends me this time als o
Frank will in the course of the coming day appear as
conquering hero, while I ^"
Dear Emmeran," she interposed, eagerly, 'Hhere
are cases where a capitulation is both honorable and
hamane. Why not save life where the sacrifice of it iB
useless T'
" That is what we intend to do,'' he said, bitterly.
" Let us rejoice it is to be so," she continued, " and
that we may not expect another day of strife and blood-
shed."
'You may rather expect a day of triumph," said
Emmeran ; and if, during the course of it, you bestow
a thought on me, it is all I can reasonably hope."
" Will you not return to us ?" she asked, looking
towards Hilda, and evidently surprised at her silence.
Emmeran shook his head.
"I thought," she continued, 'yoa would perhaps
remain here, as hitherto, an invalid prisoner on
parole r
sat AT ODD8.
^I am, in foot, no longer an inyalid, Doris; and
Gkneral Deroy did me the honor to say he required my
services."
" That alters the case," she said^ extending her hand.
*' You'll think of me sometimes, Doris T'
"Very often, most probably."
" And regret my absence f "
'* Undoubtedly."
* And wish for my return V*
** Most assuredly." ^
I suppose I must be satisfied," he said, turning
away.
' I think you ought/' said Hilda, '^ for I do not know
any one of whom Bhe will so often think, or so much
wish to see again, excepting, perhaps ^Frank I"
He had slowly progressed towards the door while she
was spei^king, stood outside until she ceased, and then
closed it without attempting an answer.
The knowledge which Emmeran had acquired of the
country about Innsbruck during his three years' resi*
dence there proved of eminent service during the ar-
rangements made for the retreat, that had become abso-
lutely necessary, and which General Deroy judiciously
undertook during the darkness of night. Favored by
the noise of the rushing waters of the flooded river
and the blasts of a strong wind, the movements of
the troops were unobserved, and at daybreak the Ty-
roleans perceived with amazement that, excepting the
pickets who had shared their wine very freely with
them during the night, not a Bavarian soldier was to be
seen!
Some faint attempts at pursuit were made, some
skirmishing attempted at the places which they passed;
but the order of the retreating force was so complete
that little loss and no delay was caused; and as the
Tyroieana, like the Frendi Yendeans, and the Seoteh
Highlanders in 1745, invariably supposed the contest
ended when the invaders were chased from or volnn-
tarily evacuated the coantry, they soon desisted, satis-
fied that Tyrol was again Austrian and Franz their
Emperor!
The importance and advantages of the insurrection
in Tyrol for Austoia now began to be felt and under-
stdod, and addresses from the Emperor and his brothers
to the people were, in the form of letters, published in
the Innsbruck papers. For this second emancipation
of the country, as well as for the victory of Aspem,
which soon became publicly known, a solemn Te Deum
was celebrated in the Franciscan church, at which the
eivil governor Baron Hormayer, the officers who had
fought on Mount Isel, Hofer, Speckbacher, and the
martial monk Haspinger, were present; also Doris and
Hilda; and the latter made no attempt to conceal the
curiosity and interest with which the peasant leaders
inspired her. She had listened with eager attention
to Frank's praises of Speckbacher's natural military
genius, to his description of Pater Haspinger ever to be
seen where the contest was raging, his massive crucifix
serving at one moment to console the dying, the next
either as weapon or as baton to lead the riflemen to a
charge. For Hofer Frank felt a sort of personal regard,
which Hilda began unconsciously to share, when chance,
or perhaps some innocent maneuvering on the part of her
relations, had brought her frequently into contact with
him. His picturesque appearance undoubtedly had its
weight with her as well as others, and she soon dis-
covered that one of his greatest charms was his being
such a perfect representative of a Tyrolean peasant.
Andrew Hofer's immense popularity among his coun-
X trymen was partly owing to his retaining his peasant
800 AT ODDB.
habits and manners even after he had been invested
with the highest an thority by his Emperor; the Tyro-
leans were jealous and watchful in this particular, pre-
ferred seeing him on foot, though he was a good rider
and looked well on horseback, and would have been
much offended had he made any change in his dress.
There is also no doubt that his being as uninstructed,
simple-minded, and superstitiously religious as them-
selves rather increased than lessened the respect shoirn
him; he was one of themselves, theilr representative;
the reflection of his gloiy fell full on them, and though
there were few of the other and more talented leaden
who were not conscious that they could take his place,
not one oi them ever succeeded in being even supposed
his rival I Fortunate for Tyrol that it was so, for never
bad insurrectionists a more humane leader ; fortunate
also for the invading armies, that could feel certain the
prisoners and wounded left in the country would be
treated with consideration and kindness.
Meantime Frank had not forgotten his whim, as Hilda
expected ; on the contrary, the continuation of it seemed
to have become a trial of power on his part, and, his
aunt having resolved never again to interfere, he was
allowed to decline "keeping up appearances" without
the slightest opposition. He came to them regularly
every morning as visitor, but only accompanied them in
their walks or drives when especially invited by Hilda.
A stranger might have supposed him a timid lover wait-
ing anxiously for encouragement that was ever given
with provoking reserve; but Hilda interpreted other-
wise his proud humility and ostentatious obedience;
she detected many a glance of mirthful saucy triumph
that was wholly unobserved by others, and which
tempted her to punish him more frequently than was
A VOW. l
|erhp8 qaite judicious, conBidmug the short time ihef
were to be together.
Frank had not the least idea that the coarse he was
pursuing would prove less irritating to Hilda than to
himself; and -had he not been her husband the case
might have been dififerent; but, feeling certain of his
affection, and unable to find the slightest cause for
jealousy, she was perfectly satisfied, and amused herself
by tempting him to firget his resolution whenever an
opportunity offered.
" I have received a letter from Pallersberg,'' he said
one morning, soon after he had taken his accustomed
place beside her.
, She looked up anxiously. '^I hope you will not have
to leave us sooner than you expected, Frank?"
'^ I believe I must : there is nothing more to be done
here : the French have had only too much time to re^
cover their losses and receive reinforcements^ and the
Archduke thinks the sooner we are able to give them
battle again the better.''
And is there no chance of peace V* she asked, Jde-
spondingly. %
^ That," he replied, ' is a question which Napoleon
alone can answer. At present war is the order of the
day^ and I must join my regiment. Pallersberg tells
me that poor Bereny has just died of his wounds, and
there is a letter inclosed which I must either forward or
deliver to Madame de Bereny in Meran."
"Forward it, Frank," said Hilda, with heightened
color; 'no one can expect you to undertake the part of
a near relation on such an occasion !"
But her near relations are all in Hungary," he said,
pleadingly, ''and most of his also, and with those in
Vienna no communication is now possible. It is vej*y
802 AT ODDB.
kard for a iroman in her state of health to ree^re sneh
intelligence unprepared."
" Very hard," said Hilda; "but I do not see why you
should be the person ohosen to inform, or rather to ooa-
oi6,herr
^ Probably/' suggested Frank, ^'because I am an inti-
mate friend, and just now very near Meran/'
" I think/' she rejHned, it would be quite sufficient
eren for an intimate friend in your place to write a few
lines of condolence. Most communications of this kind
are by letter."
^^I will not quarrel with you again, Hilda, even finr
Madame de Bereny/' said Frank, seating himself at her
writiogrtable ; ' but when I see Pallersberg I shall not
forget to tell him that should I lose my life in the next
engagement a short communication by letter addressed
to you will be all that is necessary, even should he or
any other friend be within a day's journey of your place
of residence/'
He opened the paper-book while speaking, and saw
the facmsimile of his own last letter to Pallersberg on the
blotting-paper before him.
It is fortunate that you have preserved this me-
mento of treachery/' he said, turning towards her.
"Why so?" she asked, quickly.
^^ Because I might have forgotten these words, which I
ean now make intelligible in a satisfactory manner. I had
been requested while here to ascertain if the country
were really so devoted to Austria as we had been led to
suppose, and desired to give the information in the usual
manner; that is, to write of Tyrol and the Emperor Frans
as of lovers separated by force or adverse circumstances.*
* In this manneir much useful information was oommonioated at
** M time.
A VOW..
Tjrrol was the lost one/ that is, the lost eonntry, *m
passionately attached as ever/ "
'Can it indeed he so?" cried Hilda, coming towards
him and fixing her eyes on the writing, though she
knew every word of it well by heart.
' Does it require further explanation ?" he asked,
pointing to the words the separation forgiven." " Yon
know the Tyroleans thought the Emperor ought never
to have consented to that part of the treaty of Free*
burg."
'' True, most true," said Hilda, confhsed.
f^ And," continued Frank, the intense desire of Tjrrol
for reunion with Austria was in fhct beyond my most
sanguine expectations."
' I see, I understand it all now; but at least, Frank,
you must allow that these words were quite as appli-
cable just then to me, or or to that Madame de
Bereny I"
*I don't know any such thing, Hilda," he replied,
* for I certainly had had no reason to flatter myself
that there was any thing like an intense desire for re
union on your part; rather very decidedly the con-
trary."
Well, Frank, I should think you could hardly have
expected it to be otherwise, all things considered f"
*^1 have no clear recollection what I expected until
my aunt sent for me," he answered ; '^ but I remember
perfectly my deep mortification at a reception for which
I was so unprepared, and the vow with which I con-
soled myself when standing afterwards at that window."
** A vowl" repeated Hilda.
* A vow," he continued, that the next proposal of
union should come from you. I asked Doris to try and
induce you to make a concession, but she declined
fiirther interference. I was, however, myself tolerably
Mplidt ftftar briiiging yon bade to Inndbmok lately;
bat now you know without reseire the coadiikHis on
which we can live together and ceaae to be at odda/'
** I thought this was a whim," said Hilda, in a low,
constrained yoicCy ^'and am sorry to find you have been
tempted by a very pardonable demonstration of womanly
pride on my part to make a vow that places such an
insuperable barrier between us. We must resign our-
selves to live apart, Frank ; but can we not cease to
be * at odds/ as you call it ?"
" We can try," he said, starting up from the table, and
beginning to walk up and down the room with long
strides^ while she reseated herself, and bent over her
work in real or affected diligence.
'I suppose,'^ she said, after a pause, and without
looking up, ^ I suppose you will now consider yourself
at liberty to go to Meran ?*'
By no means/' he answered, stopping before her;
^ I must keep my promise as well as my vow, and you
have only given me permission to write to Madame de
Bereny."
^ Go to her if you prefer it, Frank/' said Hilda, with
forced composure ; " I release you from y^our promise,
and require henceforward no more deference from yoa
than is due to me as your cousin.''
Why, Hilda, we shall then be more at odds than
verl"
*No/' she answered; "for I am as fully resolved as
you can be not again to quarrel."
*^ We have but a short time to put our good resolur
tions into practice/' he said, forcing a smile ; ^^ for you
know that a few days hence I must leave Innsbruck.''
^ But we can meet again in Meran, Frank."
*^I dont know wheUier or not it will be possible "
You cannot, perhaps, ask for leave of afaMnce P
A Towt MS
^That depends apon cxrenaMmkom orerwidoh I hnsve
no control." ^
* But yon will return to hb as soon as possible f"
" I dare say I sball be fool emmgh to do so shoald an
opportunity oifer/' was his somewhat irritated reply.
And Hilda^ concealing her displeasure, observadi
blandly^ * You will, Frank, for ^Madame de Bereny
will be in Meran."
His eyes flashed, but he turned to the writing-table,
saying, ^* Thank you for reminding me : I had altogether
forgotten her existence/'
Now, how can I believe tiiat V* thought Hilda, after
watching him for some time 'seated at the table, his
head resting on his clasped hands, and his quick breath-
ing and flushed face betraying great internal emotion.
*^ He feels his guilt, and finds it hard to write words of
consolation to a woman who"
Frank just then sat upright, drew a sheet of paper
towards him, took up a pen, and began to write with a
facility that might have overcome her jealous suspicions
had they not instantly turned into a new channel.
** That was certainly not the first letter he had written
to Madame de Bereny. He was probably writing on
other subjects : perhaps regretting that his jealous wife
would not allow him to condole in person ; perhaps even
urging her to return to her relations, ammg whom he
would soon have an opportunity of seeing her."
And still Frank wrote, wrote, wrote, and took an*
other and another sheet of paper, until Hilda's resent-
ment turned into passionate anger, which was, however,
not in the least perceptible, as she laid down her work,
rose deliberately, and walked with dignified composure
towards the door.
^' Hilda," he said, snatching her hand as she passed
him, ^ yield this time, and oommand me ever after.^
tM MX qdhb.
^Ko^ Frank: yon csnnot expect me to fg6t mj seX|
and ought to know that it is your part to propose, and
mine to aooept, or you may command, I believe you
have a right to do so, and I must, of coarse, obey/'
*^l cannot propose, and will not command,'' said
Frank, letting her hand fidl, and taking up his pen again.
* * *
* * * *
* * *
"Did you not invite Frank to come here this evening,
Hilda V* asked her mother, some hours later.
* No, mamma, I never thought of it ; I left him writing
a long letter to Madame de Bereny."
*' Which I sappose he expects you to send to the
poet," said her mother, pointing to the large sealed
packet lying on the writing-table.
" I don't ^know," answered Hilda, taking it up reluc-
tantly, but a moment afterwards starting and becoming
very pale when she perceived that it was addressed to
herself.
She tamed from her mother and sister when she broke
the seal, but had scarcely read more than a few lines
before she exclaimed, in a voice of anguish, " He is gone!
gone without taking leave of us, and we may never see
him again I"
Yoa must have offended him deeply," said her
mother, reproachfully; '^ nothing else would have induced
him to leave us in this manner."
Hilda walked quickly out of the room without at-
tempting an answer.
Her mother turned to Doris. ''What do you say
now?" she asked; ''is this also a mere lover's quarrel?"
"We must hope so," answered Doris; "though it is
certainly a very ill-timed one.''
"Ill-timed, indeed," repeated her mother; "for^ as
rOK BETTER tOK WORSE. 897
Hflda herself says, we may never see him again ; he has
left OS to join an army on the eve of battle, and who
can tell what may be the result of the next engagement
for him?"
'^ That thought may induce her to answer his letter
in a conciliatory manner/' suggested Doris, with tears
in her eyes; '^and, should he be spared to us, a few
months' correspondence will be a good preparation for
their next meeting/'
CHAPTER XXXVII.
VOR BETTER FOR WORSE.
This state of suspense is dreadful," cried Hilda, a
few weeks later, as she walked up and down the room
holding a torn and soiled newspaper in her hand; "I
believe that is, I ^I fear the French have gained a
victory."
' Of that, unfortunately, there can be no doubt," said
her mother; "for without good information that. salvo
of artillery would not have been fired from the foirtress
of Kuffstein ; but I cannot yet believe in the truce, of
which people are talking so much."
"Why not?" asked Hilda: "here you can read it
printed in the supplement to. the Munich newspaper."
" We know it is printed," said Doris; "but the manner
in which the half dozen copies of that supplement have
reached Innsbruck is not calculated to make us suppose
It official."
" Now, my dear Doris," interposed Hilda, '* we know
from experience that if an officer with a trumpeter had
been sent among your patriots they would either have
34
W8 AT OMW.
Mde him a targei for their rifles, or, at best, taken hiia
prisoner: yoa cannot deny their want of chivalry on
each occasiona."
'^I do not deny their ignorance of military etiquettOi
Hihla ; bnt yon oannot expect me or my patriots to give
mach credence to information bronght to us by a maA
in his shirt-sleeves, mounted on an old white horse,
flourishing above his head a few copies of a newspaper,
and shouting, *A truce, a truce I Don't fire at me: I'm
only the baker from Kochelt' "*
" Well, I believe in this truce," said Hilda; " and I hope
it will soon be succeeded by a peace. What would I
not give for a few lines from Frank to assure me of his
safety P
' As he has promised to write to you,'' said Doris,
''you may depend upon it he will do so as soon as he
can."
She was right. The next day Hilda held a letter
from Frank in her hand, ^a few, a very few, hurried
lines, merely intended, as he said, to let her know that
he was alive I Pallersberg had promised to write more
at length, and he also would do so as soon as possible.
Pallersberg's letter contained a concise account of the
battle of Wagram, ending with the words, * We lost no
cannon, and the enemy took no prisoners: so that but
for the retrograde movement of our troops it would have
been impossible to have decided which had gained the
advantage. It is said that Kapoleon is much chagrined
at the indecisive result, and the death of some of his best
officers. Our losses are great. The Archduke Charles
and almost all our generals are wounded, and some of
'* In this very undignified manner-^perhaps for the reasons pre-
Tioasly mentioned the inteUigence of the tmoe of Znaim wm first
eoAveyed to the Tyroleans.
rOB BXTTBE FOR WOESX. 8M
my best friends are at tluB moment nnder the hands of
ihe Hargeons T'
' He does not say a word about Frank/' cried Hilda,
impatiently.
Why should he, when Frank himself has written V*
asked her mother.
' Bat what a letter I" rejoined Hilda. ' He generally
writes so well; and this is scarcely legible! I never
received such an unsatisfactory letter in all my life I"
^ I think it very satisfactory to hear that he is alive
and well/' said her mother ; ^^^ and I do not know what
you could expect or desire more under the present cir*
cumstances.'^
" Just such a letter as you have received from Major
Pallersberg/' answered Hilda, with perhaps the addi-
tion of some words about the truce, and some wishes for
-a peace!''
^ I doubt his having heard any thing about a truce
when that was written/' observed her mother.
And I/' said Doris, ^^ am quite sure that Frank could
not have written otherwise than hastily, and perhaps
illegibly, if his best friends were under the hands of
surgeons."
* You may be right, Boris/' said Hilda; " for he spoke
very feelingly of those he lost at Aspem, and, as my
mother says, I ought to be satisfied that he is alive and
weU."
For several days there was much uncertainty con
oeming the truce; but at length General Buol, who com*
manded the Austrian troops in Tyrol, having received
dispatches from the Archduke John, issued a proclaqaa-
tion announcing the conclusion of an armistice at Znaim^
one of the stipulations of which was an immediate eva
cuation of Tyrol on the part of the Austrian troops.
Ho recommended the people to lay down their arms
400 AT OnM,
and gabmit to what was inevitable with patience,
resignation, and fortitude. Finding them, however,
determined not to follow his advice and pertinaciouBly
incredolouB respecting the truce, he retired from Inns-
bruck with the troops and cannon under his command,
and, taking the route over the Brenner, with great
reluctance left Tyrol to its fate. A large army under
Lefebvre soon after entered the country. Innsb^ck,
destitute of defenders, was compelled to submit; and,
when upwards of twenty-six thousand men marched
into the town, the peacefully-disposed citizens began to
hope that the war in Tyrol was terminated.
" It is very provoking," observed Hilda, " that Madame
d'Epplen, though restored to liberty, cannot leave Inns-
bruck } the state of the country is such that any attempt
of the kind would probably end in another compulsory
mountain excursion : so she has at last resigned herself
to remain here and to return to her old lodging, where
she now intends patiently to await the arrival of her
husband."
" She may have to wait long," said Doris.
"Not if the present truce lead to a peace," observed
Hilda; ^^for, notwithstanding all the reports in circula-
tion of the proceedings of the peasants and their wild
mode of warfare in the defiles of the mountains, she
cannot believe that they have any chance against liC-
febvre and an army such as he has now under his com-
mand."
And ^hat is your opinion ?" asked Doris, with some
hesitation.
"I feel myself growing superstitious," answered
Hilda, gravely, " and begin to believe in the prophecy
that the Tyroleans are always to be successful on Mount
Isel. If Lefebvre were a Bavarian, I should send to
warn him; but as I heur he was, or rather pret.mded to
/
90R BSTtCR FOB W0B8X. 401
be, tarprifled that Oeneral Deroy oould not subdue tbe
country with an army of six thousand men, I should
^ have no very great objection to his finding out that he
could not do so with one of six-and-twenty thousand."
'I believe he is beginniug to have some fears od that
subject himself/' said Doris; 'at least he was, by ail
aooonnts, signally defeated yesterday/'
** Where? when?" cried Hilda, eagerly; "but perhaps
yon have only had your information fi*om our rebel
landlord; Mr. Hartmann?"
"Not the less true on-that account," answered Doris;
'* and as to your Duke of Dantzio "
^He is Napoleon's duke, and not mine/' interposed
Hilda, in playfol deprecaticm ; " and I only feared a little
just a very little exaggeratioif on the part of our toi-
oosly patriotic landlord : he looked intolerably triumph-
ant when speaking to you just now in the corridor, and
that was the reason I did not stop to hear what he was
relating to you and mamma."
" There is no exaggeration necessary on this occasion/'
said Doris, with heightened color; ^ Marshal Lefobvre,'
who left Innsbruck with the intention of forcing his
way tver the Brenner into Southern Tyrol, has not
only been altogether unsuccessful, but has returned to
Innsbruck in as disastrous a manner as can well be
imagined. His column, while winding in straggling files
on the mountain-road, was attacked in all directions by
the armed peasantry, and, after an obstinate conflict,
the whole army, twenty thousand strong, were routed
and driven back with immense loss. The disorder was
so great that the marshal himself escaped in the dis-
guise of a common trooper."
" This is intelligence indeed," said Hilda; "and what
may we expect now ?"
"Another battle on Mount Isel," answered Doris,
34*
402 AT OBB8.
' where the peMantry are already in great force with
all their beet leaders."
Her words were prophetic; for the Tyroleans, animated
by their saccessi no longer stood on the defensive, bat,
flocking from all quarters to the standard of Hofer,
assembled in multitudes on Mount Isel^ the scene of
their former triumphs, and destined to be immortalized
by a' still more extraordinary victory. Lefebvre had
collected his whole force, with thirty pieces of cannon,
on the small plain which lies between Innsbruck and the
foot of the mountains on the southern side of the river
Inn. The Tyrolean army consisted of about eighteen
thousand men, and some Austrian soldiers who had re-
mained in the country to share the fate of the inhabit-
ants. Speckbacher commanded the right wing, the
Capuchin monk Haspinger the left, and Hofer the cen-
ter. At four o'clock in the morning the energetic monk
roused Hofer, and, having first united with him in fervent
prayer, hurried out to communicate his orders to the
outposts. The battle commenced soon afterwards, and
continued without intermission until late in the even-
ing, the troops under Lefebvre's command constantly
endeavoring to drive the Tyroleans from their position
on Mount Isel, and they in their turn to force the enemy
back into the town. For a long time the contest was
undecided, the superior discipline and admirable artil-
lery of the enemy prevailing over the impetuous but
disorderly assaults of the mountaineers; but towards
nightfall the bridge of the Sill was carried ^after a
dreadful struggle; the enemy gave way on all sides,
and were compelled to retreat into the town with great
loss.
This victory was immediately followed by the libera*
tion of the whole Tyrol. Lefebvre fell back across the
Inn on the day after the battle, and, evacuating Inn-
V I^R BETTBE FOR W0R8S. 408
bmoky retreated rapidly to Salsbnrg. Of this event he
wrote to Napoleon that it was
" Non une di/aite, mais un mouvement retrograde. Oui^
Strc, (fest une de ces retraites dont Vhistoire parle tant, que
vient defaire voire armee!*'
While Lefebvre was making this retrograde move-
ment, which even the officers under his command
scarcely hesitated to call a flighty Hofer triumphantly
entered Innsbrack. He sat with Haspinger in an open
carriage^ drawn by Madame d'Epplen's well-known
grays, and was sorroonded and followed by an immense
crowd of peasants, whose shouts were accompanied by
the incessant pealing of the adjacent church-bells. His
presence in the town had become necessary in order to
check the disorders consequent on the irruption of so
large a body of tumultuous victorious peasants into a
town containing numerous rich citizens, whose patriot-*
ism was considered more than doubtful. He dined at
the house of a friend, and while at. table received a depu-
tation from the town requesting protection of person
and property. The streets had become filled with the
peasant influence; an endless procession, preceded by a
man carrying a large crucifix, forced its way forward,
and with the feeling of importance and freedom from
the thraldom of law, civil or military, came the resolu-
tion to seize and appropriate whatevci* they required.
It was known that the arms which had been taken from
the different parishes by Lefebvre had been stored in
the Imperial palace, and to this arsenal the crowd at
once turned. The castellan^ would not deliver up what
had been intrusted to his care, and sent immediately to
Hofer, who at last, out of all patience, started up, rushed
to a window, and, throwing it wide open, shouted to the
crowd below,
^ What are you here for ? To rob and plague people f
4M AT ojnm.
You mght to be ashamed of yotmeliraB! Why donH
yoa go after the enemy ? They are not too far off I Go
after them to the Lowlands ^go, I say, for I won't
have you here I And if you don't do as I^ bid you
I won't be your leader any longer !"
This speech, to the surprise of many anxious hearers,
gave great satisibetion; and the threat at the end pro*
dnoed instant obedience. The crowd dispersed : some,
as he had ordered, went in pursuit of Lefebvre, others
returned to their homes. The commencement of this
speech was prompted by the impulse of the moment;
the last words proved how perfectly he understood that
his power depended altogether on the free will of his
countrymen, and that by not arrogating more than they
chose to giv^ him, and making a favor of being their
leader, he could prevent the outbreak of those scenes of
riotous anarchy that usually accompany insurrections ;
and, in fact, he managed by these means to give to the
revolt of his countrymen that stamp of heroism which
has made it one of the most interesting episodes of
modem history. The entire command of the country
was now assumed by Hofer; proclamations were issued
and coins struck in his name as Commander-in-Chief of
the Tyrol; and the whole civil and military power was
placed in his hands.
"Well, Doris," said Hilda, "you were very much
shocked at Lefebvre's taking old Count Sarntheim and
the Baroness Sternbach with him as hostages: what do
you say to Hofer's detaining Madame d'Epplen and
Baron Voelderndorf as reprisal?"
"I heard," answered Doris, "that it was a party of
peasants- who took them prisoners on the Yolders road,
and Hofer could not well refuse to detain them when
they were brought to him. I am sure he treats them as
FOB BSTTXB FOB W0B8S. 406
vrM as possible, and I dare say he wiU allow as to visit
them if we ask' his permission : shall We try V,
" By all means," said Hilda; " but before we go into
the streets we must cut off or otherwise dispose of our
hair, for a proclamation of his this morning has forbid-
den the women here to wear curls, low dresses, or short
sleeves I"
"Well," said Doris, "can we not make plaits of. our
curls and hide them under our hats?"
^But is it not absurd his issuing sumptuary laws?"
asked Hilda.
"I don't know that/' answered Doris; "for the new
French fashions are enough to provoke any one in
authority to forbid them."
" I confess," said Hilda, " that I like every thing that
is fashionable, and should persist in wearing my curls
and short sleeves and low dresses whenever and wher-
ever I pleased, if it were not for the warning at the end
of the proclamation."
* What warning?"
"That the. offending curls may with impunity be cut
off by any peasant who chooses to prove his patriotism
at my expense !"
' I wonder who put this into Hofer's head ?" said Doris.
"I can quite imagine the idea original," observed
Hilda, laughing ; '^ for, besides the real cares and labors
of elevated situation, he contrives to give himself in*
cessant occupation by attempting to arrange private
quarrels of all kinds, but especially those between hns
bands and wives."*
" Then let us go to him directly," said Doris, smiling
archly. "Who knows but he may be of use to us in
more ways than one ?"
* This remark has been made by erery historian of those times.
4M AT ODPS.
*'I haTe no intentioii of making him umpire between
me and Frank, if that be what you mean/' aaid Hildai
rising: ^my reverence for Hofer has not reached that
height yet; but I should like to obtain permission to see
ICadame d'Epplen and find out if we can be of any nse
to her/'
They continued so eagerly occupied in discussing
these subjects, that until their progress in the streets
was actually impeded they scarcely perceived them to
be unusually crowded ; but a sudden rush of passengers
at length induced them to send their servant to inquire
the meaning of a noi^ procession that began to issue
from a neighboring street.
" Some prisoners, ma'am, taken, they say, by Speck*
bacher at Unken."
^ How can we best avoid the crowd V asked Dons,
looking round.
By going on to the palace as fast as we can/' an-
swered Hilda, hurrying forward.
At the entrance to the building two stalwart men
fiom Hofer's own valley were posted ; the noise in the
street seemed to have in some degree attracted their
attention, for, though they still continued to lean indo-
lently on their rifles, their eyes were fixed keenly on
the moving multitude in the distance.
Doris and Hilda entered, mounted the broad stair-
case, and wandered about for some time, the servant
knocking at, and trying to open, the doors of the state
apartments, which, however, were all locked and appa-
rently uninhabited.
" You had better," said Hilda, " go down-stairs again
and make inquiries, or, if possible, find some one who
will take us to Andrew Hofer."
The servant left them; and when she and Doris pro-
longed their walk into an adjacent corridor they saw
70B BXTTXB FOft WO&SS. 40|
At the end of it a couple of men^ in size and costume pre*
eiseiy resembling the sentinels at the palace gate. These,
however, were seated on wooden benches, had small pipes
in their mouths, and beside them stood a little girl, who,
in a clear, expressive voice, was reading a legend of some
Baint, to which they were listening with profound atten-
tion : this child was Babette d^Epplen,"*" who, on hearing
the footsteps of Doris and Hilda, looked up, and with an
exclamation of delight sprang towards them.
Admittance to Madame d'Epplen was demanded, but
of course refused, and then little Babette, standing on
tiptoe and putting her mouth to the keyhole of the
door, called out, ^ Mamma, Boris and Hilda are here,
and want to see you, and Leppel says he dare not let
any one into your room without an order, because you
are a prisoner; and I want you to allow me to go away
firom the corridor, that I may show them Andrew
Hofer's room. They think he will tell Leppel and Peter
to open your door whenever they come here 1"
You may go," said her mother; " but don't forget to
teU Katty."
Elatty, the person who attended the prisoner's rooms,
waa in a not very distant room, the door of which was
ajar, and she now looked out and nodded her head to
signify that she required no fhrther explanation ; where-
upon Babette jumped and danced along before them,
showing herself already perfectly acquainted with
every turning in the palace, until a couple of sitting
sentinels again indicated the door of an apartment con-
taining inmates of more importance than the others.
Fortunately, at this moment a man came towards
them carrying a tray on which were dishes of steaming
pork and saurkraut, and he immediately undertook to
*Faot.
408 AT ODDS.
annonnee them, though he explaiDed that the '^ com-
mander in-ohier' did not at all like being disturbed at
dinner-time.
'^ Then say nothing about us at present/' suggested
Doris; " we can wait without inconvenience/'
The man entered the room, but before he had time to
close the door she saw Hofer and his friends seated at
table with their coats off. The apartment was of the
simplest description, very plainly furnished, and a
strong odor of bad tobacco was wafted into the passage^
already redolent of saurkraut. Doris turned away her
head in a manner that made Hilda laugh and whisper,
*Yon must not object to a little patriotic perfume,
Doris, or I shall begin to think that Andrew Hofer
would suit me for a hero better than you. I like bim
for not requiring finer tobacco or ordering a better
dinner than he could have at home, ai^d he certainly
looked as picturesque as jovial just now with that tum-
bler of wine in his hand I"
Before Doris could answer, a number of peasants tnxned
into the corridor, trampling along it in their clouted shoes
and talking loudly and eagerly. They advanced to the
door of Hofer's room and attempted to force an entrance,
bnt the sentinels opposed their passage, pushing them
back with very little ceremony while informing them
that the commander-in-chief was at dinner.
* We want to see Andrew Hofer," cried one.
*^ We must see Andrew Hofer," shouted another.
" We have a right to see Andrew Hofer," vociferated
several at once; and almost at the same moment the
door opened, and Hofer stood before them.
He was still without his coat, but his red waistcoat
and broad leather girdle, ornamented with the embroi-
dered initials of his name, made the incompleteness of
his dress scarcely perceptible, the more so as, according
rOK BCTTSR TOE WOESS. 40t
to his custom, he had placed his broad-brimmed^ black
plumed hat on his head.
' Father/' cried oue of ^he peasants, well knowing it
was the manner in which he best liked to be addressed,
*' Father, the prisoners taken by Speckbacher at Unken
are in the court; what are we to do with them?"
*' Treat them humanely," he answered, "and in a
Christian-like manner; but don't let them make their
escape."
' Some officers are among them," continued the man.
'So much the better," he answered; perhaps we
can exchange them for Count Samtheim and the
Baroness Stembach."
' But, Father, one of these officers was at Schwas and
helped to burn and plunder the town ; we expect you to
make an example of him and order him to be shot
without delay."
The whole expression of Hofer's countenance changed
in a moment, ^it was as sombre as it had previously
been cheerful, and he strode forward towards the stair-
case without speaking.
The peasants followed, loudly reiterating their accu
sations against the unfortunate prisoner until they were
out of sight and hearing.
" Let us go home," said Hilda, answering her sister's
look of dismay with a shudder. ^ Heaven knows what
we may see or hear if we remain longer in this place I"
Don't you think we ought to take Babette back to
her mother?" suggested Doris, turning to the child,
who had no sooner heard of prisoners in the court than
she had vaulted on one of the corridor window-frames,
leaving her thin legs and small feet dangling down-
wards, while she pressed her face against a pane of
glass and gazed eagerly into the space beneath. Come,
Babette, come "
35
410 AT O0D8.
** Oh, Doris/' she answered, without moviDg from her
place of observation, ' there's Count Emmeran among
the prisoners, and the peasants are dragging him for-
ward, and have torn all his uniform I'
In a moment Doris and Hilda were beside her, bat
only for a moment ; the next they were rushing down
the stairs and into the court, where, forcing their way
through the crowd, they reached Hofer's side just as
Emmeran, with wonderful self-possession, was giving
the assaranoe that he had never commanded or aided in
any act of incendiarism, and had not been in Schwaz at
the time of the conflagration.
'He was in Innsbruck, and with us," cried Doris,
vehemently, ^*m our house, wounded, and unable to
leave his bed. Numbers of people can bear witness
for him !"
" Who,'* asked Hofer, looking round, "who said they
saw him in Schwaa V
I saw him r
"And IP
" And 1 1" cried some men who had been rather osten*
tatiously loading their rifles, as if to encourage Hofer's
wavering severity : '' I remarked his light hair and gaunt
figure well, and resolved to have my revenge when I met
him at Unken; and I would have had it after it was all
up with his regiment, if he had not sprung into the river
and been^aken prisoner by our captain himself I"
Is this true V asked Hofer, turning to Emmeran.
" Yes," he answered : " I wb$ overpowered and taken
prisoner when swimming in the Saalach; but these men
mistake me for some one else, for I was here in Inns*
bruck when they supposed they saw me in Schwaz."
" This is true, quite true," cried Doris, pushing aside
the men who were holding him. '' Surely," she added,
appealing to Hofer, ' surely you will not allow him to
FOR BETflE FOft WOBSB. 411
lo0e his life for the fault of another perBon? Oh, for
Heaven's sake, take him out of the hands of these vin-
dictive men I"
" If/' said Hofer, looking ronnd appealingly, ** if it
can be proved that this officer was not at Schwaz, he
has a right to be treated as humanely as the other pri-
soners. You say/' he added, turning to Doris and Hilda,
''you say he was at that time in your house T'
'* Tes/' cried Doris, eagerly : at that time, and long
after. He was wounded at the hospital gate in April,
and our landlord and many others can prove that he
was unabler to leave his room for several weeks after-
wards."
** Is he your brother?" asked Hofer.
N o."
" Or your cousin V*
" Not exactly," answered Doris, embarrassed.
That's the truth, at all events V* cried a man, forcing
his way through the crowd. The brother or cousin
was shot in April, and lies buried in our churchyard I
This is quite another sort of relationship. The man's
her sweetheart, and she wants to save his life by palm-
ing him off oa us as the other one !"
After this explanation the peasants again closed round
Emmeran with threatening gestures, while Hilda and
Doris vainly endeavored to make them understand that
one brother was killed and the other wounded. Hofer
pushed aside the men who had placed themselves before
bim, and, coming close to Doris, as she stood pale with
terror and unconsciously grasping Emmeran's arm, he
asked, with unmistakable sympathy, Is he indeed your
sweetheart V
^^ Yes, oh, yes I" she answered, scarcely conscious of
the meaning of her words until she felt her hand strongly
clasped in Emmeran's.
418 AT 0M.
Betrothed with your mother's cansent?" eo^tiniied
Hofer, with increasing interest.
Yes ^yes ^betrothed any thing ^if you will only
save him from these men I"
Stand baok V cried Hofer, authoritatively. ' There
may be some mistake bere^ and I won't have any one
shot without better proof of his guilt. Stand back, I
say, and be satisfied that one of the darkest ceUars in
the palace will be his prison until we know all about him
and his doings."
Then, without waiting for a demonstration of approval
or the contrary, he gave the necessary directions to his
aide-de-camp, and turned to the other prisoners. !Em-
meran was conducted and followed out of the court by
several angry-looking but quite as many good-humored
peasants, the latter rather loudly whispering that they
liked a wedding better than a funeral, and wished that
Hofer would send for Peter Haspinger and let the mar-
riage come off at once.
Still accompanied by Doris and Hilda, Emmeran
descended to the vaults beneath the palace, silent until^
the castellan, who officiated as jailer, stopped before the
oaken door of one of them. Then Emmeian bent down
and whispered, Doris, dearest, what am I to say when
questioned by Hofer concerning our betrothal?"
* Whatever you please," she answered, blushing deeply :
" I cannot contradict you; for I was so terrified that I
scarcely remember what I said." v
May /remember?" asked Emmeran.
At that moment the door grated on its hinges and
discovered a long, damp, and perfectly dark cellar.
The faces of the angry peasants assumed an expression
of satisfiftction at the dreary prospect ; the others as evi-
dently exhibited their disappointment at finding the vault
MB BKTXK& FOB W0B8S. 413
filed with lumber inBtead of the choice wine they folly
expected to find there.
As the castellan politely made way for Emmeran to
enter, the latter once more turned to Doris and whis-
peredy eagerly^ '^Give me the assurance that we are
indeed betrothed, and I shall feel happier in this gloomy
eeUar than I have ever felt in all my life V
Doris unhesitatingly placed her hand in his, but turned
away her head; fearing the numerous witnesses might
discover that more was meant than simple leave-taking.
A moment afterwards the door of the vault was closed
and doubly locked upon Emmeran, and the peasants
began to ascend the stone staircase with the castellan.
^ Let us follow them,'' said Hilda, touching her Krm,
^ or we may chance to be imprisoned in these cold pass*
ages. Adieu, Emmeran V she added, in a louder tone :
we are going back to Hofer, and hope to procure you
at least a pleasanter prison."
" Thank you," he answered, cheerfully; ** but you need
not be uneasy about me, for I am perfectly comfortable
or, rather, supremely happy just now 1"
Hofer was not in his room, but some friends of his
who were there informed Doris and Hilda that he had
gone to Madame d'Epplen's about an exchange of pri-
soners. They followed him, and had no longer any
difSculty in obtaining permission to enter when it was
understood they wanted to speak to him on important
business.
Hofer was standing in the middle of the room, with
his thumbs stuck into his braces, and as perfectly at his
ease as could well be imagined. Madame d'Epplen and
Baron Voelderndorf, who were opposite him, were less
so; for Hofer had Just consented to allow the latter to
go to Munich in order to effect the exchange of Madame
d'Epplen and himself for the Baroness Sternbaf*h and
35*
414 AT OiNM.
Oaaat Sarntheimy'^ and they were thanking him for an
act of coartesy and generous confidence of which* they
had scarcely expected to find him capable.
There is no better test of character than sadden ele-
vation to power; and few have borne it better than
Andrew Hofer. Some months previously, Hilda had
rather condescendingly declared her intention of making,
daring the autamn, an excursion from Meran to his
valley, she had even proposed spending a night at his
inn on the Sands, thongh she had heard it was bat an
insignificant place, and now the life of one of her
nearest relations had bat half an hoar previously de-
pended on a glance or a word from him, and she at that
moment stood anxiously awaiting his leisure and hoping
to find him ftvorably disposed when she should request
the removal of Emmeran to a more eligible prison.
Hofer, however, was quite unchanged by his unlimited
power and great popularity: with the same good-hu-
mored smile and unceremonious manner that he would
have received her at the door of his inn, he nodded his
head, and said, jocosely, " I suppose you want a better
lodging for your sister's sweetheart ? Now, here's Baron
Yoelderndorf going to leave Innsbruck just in time to
make room for him, and I know he will be as safe in one
of these rooms as in a cellar, and far more snag !"
** But you," said Doris, " you, I hope, believe that he
was not at Schwaz V'
' Yob; Madame d'Epplen has told me all about him;
but I can't consent to his leaving the cellar until night-
foil : so don't ask it. Keeping him out of sight is keeping
him out of danger, you know ; and therefore he must
promise not to look out of the window for two days at
least ! And you," he continued, turning to Baron Yoel-
* Fact.
HXAB9 AND H1BAJ Mg LOQiM AT VAEIANCX. 415
demdorf, ^yon pledge your word of honor to retmn
here if 70a are not exchanged for Count Samtheim V'
Ido."
f Well, then/' said Hofer, *^ yon shall have a passport,
and may loare Innsbraok as soon as yoa please. I wish
yon all good-evening/' he added, stretching his hand
towards his hat, which, in deference to Madame d'Epplen,
he had placed on the table; and as he left the room they
saw that he made a sign to the sentinels to remain
seated, then placed his hand on little Babette's head, and
stooped down to look into the book out of which she was
reading the conclusion of the legend that had been inter-
mpted by Doris and Hilda a couple of hours previously.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
HKAET AND HEAD NO LONGSR AT YA&IANOB.
Emmeran's detention in the palace made Doris and
Hilda unwilling to leave Innsbruck, and induced them
to defer their journey to Meran from, day to day and
week to week. In the meantime, Baron Yoelderndorf,
unable to effect the proposed exchange, returned to his
prison,"*" and not only confirmed the intelligence of the
truce of Znaim, but informed Hofer that peace would
certainly be concluded in the course of a few weeks, and
that there was no chance whatever that Napoleon would
allow Austria to retain Tyrol.
* It's not true ! I won't believe it !" had been Hofej-'s
irritated answer, but the impression made was deep,
and he was on the point of recalling his commanders
from their posts and dismissing thet peasants to their
* Faet : trone yean later be wro^ an account Tf the war in Tyrol.
416 MX ODM.
homeoy when, anfortanately, all his plans were changed
by the arrival of three leaders of the iDsurrection, who
some "time previously had abandoned his caase as hope-
less and left Tyrol with the Austrian troops, ^hese
men had returned to Innsbruck by a very circuitous
route, in order to avoid the French army; they had
been long on the way, would not believe in a peace dis-
advantageous to Tyrol, and were the bearers of three
thousand dueats and a gold chain and medal sent by
the Emperor Franz to Hofer, who, thus at once finding
all that he had done legalized and all that he might do
authorized, no longer hesitated to continue the defense
of the country.
With this chain and medal Hofer was formally invested
by the abbot of Wiltau, in the Franciscan church. High
mass was celebrated, a Te Deum sung, and then, in the
presence of an immense crowd, scarcely able to restrain
their tearful enthusiasm and joyful acclamations, the
prelate having blessed the chain, which was brought to
him on a silver salver^ Hofer advanced and received,
kneeling, this much-prized token of bis Emperor*s favor.
It was Tyrol's last festival for many a day, and the
dimax of Hofer's glory!
The short speech which he made at the banquet that
succeeded the church ceremonies has been considered
sufficiently characteristic to become historical.
" Gentlemen," he said, " I thank you for having by your
presence increased the honor done me. News I have
none, though I have three couriers on the road, Johnny
Watcher, Joey Sixten, and Franzl Memmel: they might
have been here long ago; but I expect the vagabonds
every minute 1"
About the time that Hofer so spoke, Hilda sat in
Madame d'Epplen's room, and had just concluded an
account of all she had witnessed during the morning.
HXAET AND HXAD HO JUOKOXB AT TABIANOX. 417
^ Well, my dear/' observed Madame d'Sppten, with a
smile, all I can say is, that you are now as great a
rebel as your 6ister,---downrightly Austrian I I always,
however, thought it would be some one else, and not
Hofer, who would change your political opinions/'
^ But are they changed,'^ asked Hilda, if I only say
that I admire the man beyond measure? He is a hero,
and perfectly sublime in his simplicity T'
At least,'' persisted Madame d'Epplen, '^it is some^
thing like a change to say more than ever Doris said 1"
*^Not more than I have thought/' interposed Doris,
' though perhaps my admiration is less personal than
Hilda's. I think the whole insurrection sublime, and
every Tyroler who has taken up arms a hero I Never
was a revolt more purely loyal; and no one has a right
to brand with the name of rebellion this effort of the
Tyroleans to restore their lost province to its true owner
and insure a return to the paternal sway of their much*
loved Emperor."
"In point of fact, Doris, you are right," said Hilda:
^'they are not rebels in the common sense of the word."
**Not in any sense of it," rejoined Doris.
Madame d'Epplen raised her hands and waved them,
to signify that further discussion was unnecessary.
''It is all to no purpose/' she said: "their Emperor
cannot resist France backed by all Europe !"
" Excuse me/' said Doris, ^' but England, at least, is
Austria's ally."
"Tes, my dear; and, if ships could be sent to Vienna,
it might be to some purpose just now; otherwise, a
TfesLce is certain, ^perhaps actually concluded by thia
lime."
** Are you sure? have you heard ?" began Doris.
''I have received a letter from Epplen, written irnme*
diately after he had had an interview with one of your
418 AX OBOft.
peMftnt-heroes, Speekbacher, and tried to persaade him
to indaoe his couDtrym^Q to lay down their arms and
return to their homes, now that the wanis in fiiet ended
and a powerful army on the march into Tyrol. Bppton's
letter to me was sent open under cover to Hofer,* per-
haps in the hope that the arguments used in vain to
Speokbaoher might make some impression on him ; but
the untoward arrival of these men, with the chain and
medal, has made him and his followers deaf to reason."
Did you allow Emmeran to read Colonel d'Spplen's
letter V asked Doris.
^ Yes ; and he has now so little doubt of peace and our
speedy release that he intends to urge you and your
mother to go to Meran without further delay.''
Hilda knocked with her parasol on the wall of the
room, then opened the window and leaned out with
Doris just in time to encounter Emmeran's head pro-
truded in the same manner from the adjacent room.
A long conversation ensued, in which he strongly pointed
out the advantages of a removal to Meran, and the ne-
cessity of change of air and tranquillity for his aunt.
^ And youT' asked Doris; '^ what is to become of you 7"
* I shall undoubtedly obtain my liberty with the other
prisoners," he answered; and a peace is so certain,
Doris, that I can almost promise you shall never again
see me in the uniform which you once very justly ob-
served I did not know how to wear."
I have rather changed my mind on that subject,"
said Doris.
"Nevertheless," he rejoined, "I hope you still prefer
seeing me in the morning or evening coat, or even the
shooting-jacket, which I am likely to wear in future."
Wear any coat you please," said Doris, smiling:
FMt.
HABT AMD HEAD NO LONQSR AT YABIANCE. 419
^bat pray fbrget tny foolish speech about the ani
form."
Her mother; who had been reading Colonel d'Epjrfen'a
letter, now joined them, and was soon persaaded by
Emmeran to decide on a removal to Meran while the
joarney could be made without impediment.
It is very unselfish of him to advise you to leave
Innsbruck/' observed Madame d'Epplen ; " for, to judge
by myself, I can imagine how much he will miss your
daily visits."
"Perhaps," said Hilda, "you will follow us to Meran,*
as he intends to do ?"
Bather let me hope," she replied, laughingly, ^Hhat
you will before long follow me to Bavaria, instead of
making pilgrimages to Hofer's valley and visiting your
hero of 'The Sands,' as I am quite sure you propose
doing when at Meran.''
"And why should she not?" asked Doris. "*The
8ands' will very probably become a place of pilgrimage
for others as well as Hilda. But if indeed a peace be
so certain as Colonel d'Epplen seems to think, I wish
Hofer could be persuaded to go home at once, and not
expose himself and his countrymen to unnecessary
danger."
"I wish he would," said Madame d'Epplen; "but who
could expect him to listen to such a proposal now ?"
"No one, I suppose," answered Doris, with a sigh;
*^ but still you may as well send him Colonel d'Epplen's
letter."
"Take it to him yourself," said Madame d'Epplen,
placing the letter in her hand: "you never tried your
powers of persuasion in a better cause."
It was late in the afternoon when they left the palace,
and on passing the house of a frieild in the neighbor-
hood they were induced to accept an invitation to supper
420 AT 0DD8
giron iVom an open window and urged by youthful
emissaries sent to conduct tbem up-stairs. This caused
Boch a delay in their return home, that when they again
entered the streets they foand the lamps lighted, and
soon after perceived Andrew Hofer standing beneath
one of them, as it hung suspended on a chain between
the houses. He was endeavoring by the dim red light
to read a letter, while a friend who stood near loudly
and eagerly expostulated with him for having left the
theater during a performance intended to do him
honor.
"Now, Doris," whispered Hilda, as she walked on with
her mother, ''don't lose this opportunity of giving him
Colonel d'Epplen's letter."
And Doris, pushing aside her vail that he might ro-
eognijse her, walked into the middle of the street just in
time to hear him say, "How can I enjoy these honors
when I know our cause is not prospering in othei^ parts
of the country?"*
Doris hesitated. Hofer, however, had already ob-
served the letter, and extended his hand to take it.
''From Colonel d'Epplen," she began; but, perceiving
traces of agitation in his face and tears in his eyes,
instead of attempting an explanation she turned away
and hurried after her mother and sister.
"A short conference I" observed Hilda: "may I hope
it has been to some purpose, and that I shall see my
bearded hero at 'The Sands' before long V
'* Perhaps so," answered Doris, gravely. " He has evi-
dently just received some depressing intelligence, and
therefore the letter may have some influence on his
decision. I am now myself quite disheartened, and
* Hofer*B words, when stAnding that eyening beneath a lamp in
one of the sireete of Innsbruck.
HXABT AND HEAD NO LONOEB AT YABIANOI. 421
begin to fear that this insurrection, with all its entha
siasni; loyalty, and patriotism, will only have the de-
plorable result of bringing those concerned in it into
deep affliction, if not actual ruin/'
"No," said Hilda; "if they disperse and deliver up
their arms, they have nothing to fear. For the leaders.
Indeed, there may be personal danger, and as far as
Hofer is concerned I can more than share your anxiety,
because my interest is more concentrated in him than
yours has ever been."
"My interest is alike for all," answered Doris; "and,
as it is evident they must yield in the end, we can only
hope they will do so when convinced that peace is
inevitable. I would rather this insurrection ended volun-
tarily than see it subdued by force of arms; and even
you, Hilda, must desire this, if only for Hofer's sake 1"
"Of course I do," said Hilda; "and, if it be any con-
solation to you, Doris, I will also confess that I now
agree with you not only about Tyrol, but also in deeply
regretting that this war has ended fatally for Austria.
Never again will I quarrel with you or Frank about
Napoleon: he had no right to bestow Spain on his
brother, or Naples on his brother-in-law ; and I wish to
Heaven he had never burdened Bavaria with Tyrol,
and made us, as Emmeran says, his gatekeepers to
Italy 1 If such thoughts and words be rebellion, Doris,
Madame d'Epplen was right when she called me as
great a rebel as you are I"
8
AT 0BP8.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
NEAK AND APART.
MxBJLNf once the chief city and residence of the Counts
of Tyrol, was in the year 1809 what it is now, a small
town, which, though containing a considerable number
of houses, had but one long regular street. This street,
however, has at each side open arcades, that afford
acceptable shelter in winter, agreeable shade in summer,
and at all seasons an amusing if not useful walk, as it
is there that the principal shops are clustered, which
serve as attraction alike to loungers and purchasers.
The church is large, the steeple the highest in Tyrol,
and, as Dr. Ludwig Steub observes, in his equally in-
structive and entertaining work, Three Summers in
Tyrol," ''In this steeple there are seven well-tuned
melodious bells, rung in loud-sounding chords by sextons
who are, in this respect, probably the most hard-work-
ing in the world. iNTowhere in Germany can we hear
sach artistical chimes as in Meran, when on holidays
they ring the changes with pauses that strain the atter-
tion, solemn solos, gay duets, astounding unisons, and
so forth. The towns most proud of their chimes in
England can find a rival here ; and the ' Steeple and
Bell-Einging Society of Meran' may, without hesitation,
challenge the ' Lancashire Bell-Einging Club !' "
The town has a much-frequented public walk, on a
quay built to prevent the inundations of the river
Passer, and the view from it is as charming a mixture
of German and Italian scenery as can well be imagined,
NSA& AND APART. 428
high moimtams and vineyard^covered hills^ old castles
and pictaresque cottageB, mined towers, and villas of
Southern architecture. But it is to the village of Ober-
mais, situated on the Naif mountain, immediately be*
yond and above the town, that I would direct the
reader's attention; for it is there that Doris, Hilda, and
their mother had, with some difficulty, procured lodg*
ings for the autumn. Kot that Meran at that time was,
as now, a fashionable refuge for invalids, ^the grape-
cure was then unknown, but the war had filled every
tranquil place with wounded soldiers, and both the
houses in the town and the old castles of Obermais were
filled with them in different stages of convalescence.
For this reason the Waldering family were obliged to
be satisfied with a very limited number of rooms in a
house belonging to the Saint George miller, close to his
mill and to the church that gave it its name.
Before long they began to discover that the view
from the windows was quite as beautiful as it had been
in their former lodgings; they were also within walking-
distance of all their favorite haunts, and, had there not
been so many invalid officers, not only at the mill but
even in the upper rooms of the house they inhabited,
they would have been perfectly satisfied. "Not," as
Hilda observed, ' not that these officers are at all in our
way, poor men ! but one cannot well use either piano-
forte or harp as long as they remain here, and I never
felt so musical in all my life.''
^'You would like to sing some of Frank's favorite
songs r' suggested her mother.
' Yes," said Hilda: "ever since I received his letter
yesterday, I have been longing to tune the harp and
realize the picture he drew of our supposed occupa-
tions."
"Well," said her mother, 'I should think that, at
4ai AT OSDS.
flUNit of these inTalidB are able to walk about, they are
no longer likely to be disturbed by a little noise at
reasonable, rational hours."
^' Bat/' began Hilda, ^ bat those two at the mill who
are said to be so frightfoUy mutilated V
They are too &t distant to hear you when the
windows are dosed/' said her mother, ' and, without
flattery, we may suppose that the sound of the harp,
{riayed either by you or Doris, is more agreeable than
the noises which tiiey must hear continually when living
m the mill itself."
Hilda walked straight to the harp, drew off the
leather cover, and perceived, to her infinite astonish-
ment, that not one string was broken, and the instru-
ment itself almost perfectly in tune I ' Doris/' she ex
claimed, " is not this completely unaccountable V
"No," answered Doris, smiling : "it only betrays my
having had less consideration for these invalids than
you; in liEict, I forgot them altogether the only afternoon
I chanced to be alone in this room, and not only tuned
the harp, but played all the Irish, Scotch, and Welsh
airs I could remember by heart: you may therefore
imagine my qualms of conscience just now when you
mentioned why you resisted a temptation to which I
yielded without a moment's^ hesitation."
' I shall resist no longer/' said Hilda, commencing a
brilliant prelude, from which she afterwards modulated
into a succession of melodies that Frank had often re-
quested her to play because they reminded him of his
boyhood and Garvagh.
At length she stopped suddenly, and seemed to speak
a continuation of her thoughts when she observed, ' It
is odd he took no notice of my having mentioned that
we had seen Madame de Bereny on the quay and at the
bookseller's."
NEAB AND APABT. 426
Ma^I ask in what manDer you mentioned herT'
said Doris, with a smile full of meaning.
''You are mistaken this time," replied Hilda, more in
answer to her sister's looks than words. ^'I did not
betray my disgust at her flirting even in her widow's
weeds: I merely mentioned that she seemed much
admired, and was always surrounded by a swarm of
men."
"In your place/' said Doris, "I should have men-
tioned her without comment, or not at all."
" Of course, Doris, you would have done whatever
was most judicious; but I only thought of proving to
Frank that I was no longer jealous."
" I fear," said Doris, " that what you wrote will not
be a convincing proof to him, and his silence on the sub-
ject is almost a demonstration of doubt."
** Then I will give him another proof," said Hilda,
rising and pushing the harp aside. ^'I will call on
Madame de Bereny to-day, now, ^without delay."
"Stay, Hilda!" cried Doris, eagerly; "do not act on
the impulse of the moment and commence an acquaint-
ance with a woman to whom ^ou feel so decided an
antipathy. When your visiting her would have been a
concession to Frank, I urged you to do so ; but, now that
you are on such perfectly good terms with him, I think
the effort unnecessary if he do not again make the re-
quest."
" He will never make it," said Hilda ; " and I even feel
certain that were he here now he would avoid her rather
than quarrel with me again ; but I must convince him
that I am no longer jealous."
"Do you know," said Doris, gravely, "that this very
effort on your part to prove you are not jealous almost
makes me suspect that you are so still V
'' If I am," answered Hilda, " it is jealousy of the past;
426 AT ODDS.
and Frank mnst not be allowed to sappoae me capable
of snob fdly. I shall visit Madame de Bereny, Dona,
and hope you and my mother will go with me.''
They made no objection to accompany her, althongh
both entertained a secret prejudice against the woman
whose society and flattering regard had possibly tend^
to prolong Frank's estrangement from them all. Ma-
dame de Bereny received them with evident pleasure;
and during their short visit they had the satisfaction
of discovering that she was less youngs less handsome,
and infinitely less fascinating than they had expected
to find her.
** Yet she is an interesting-looking person/' observed
Hilda, magnanimously, as they walked homeward and
approached the mill by the footpath from the river,
decidedly interesting; and her manners might be called
engaging if they were not so studied. I am sure she
would make a good actress, or pose herself gracefully
in a tableau; and, in &ct, she might have been supposed
sitting for her picture at any moment while we were
with her. I never saw a black vail so judiciously
worn." '
Neither her mother nor sister answered: they were
looking straight before them, and seemed to hesitate
whether or not they should proceed.
"Pray go on," said Hilda, following the direction of
their eyes towards a couple of wounded^officers whow^ere
lying beneath some trees near the mill, one of them
stretched on a mattress, evidently in a dying state, the
other in little better plight, reclining on the grass beside
him, and greatly disfigured, not only by the bandages
of his wounds, but also by a thick black beard that com-
pletely covered the lower part of his face, leaving only
a thin transparent nose and the upper part of nis livid
cheeks visible.
KBAB AND APART. 427
Pfay go on/' she repeated; ' they have already seen
UB, and we mast neither hesitate nor let them perceive
that we are shocked at their appearance/'
The wish to seem nnobservant made Hilda and Doris
look beyond the invalids towards the windows of their
drawing-room, as if in expectation of seeing something
particularly interesting in that direction; but great was
their surprise when they actually did discover the figure
of a man standing at one of them, evidently watching
for and awaiting their return.
"It is Prank!" cried Hilda, springing joyously for-
ward; "I know him by the way he waves his hat."
And in a moment she was out of sight in the vine-
yard.
'If he had been a little less energetic in his move*
ments/' said Boris/'I should have mistaken him for
Emmeran."
"Very naturally," said her mother; "but, for many
reasons, we must rejoice that it is Frank."
*' Of course," replied Doris, quietly; "but, now that
the war is at an end, I am quite sure that Emmeran
will come home as soon as he can."
"Doris, you are right: it is indeed Emmeran!" said
her mother, as the latter strode down the hill towards
them; " but, oh ! what a disappointment to poor Hilda I
and just when a surprise and meeting of this kind might
have set all to rights without explanation; and you, I
know, would not in the least have minded waiting a
week or two longer!"
Doris 'did not stop to acquiesce in or contradict this
last supposition ; she advanced rapidly to meet Emme-
ran, who as he drew her towards him whispered, "I have
but a very short time to stay here, Doris : may I not
hope that you will return with me to Westenried ?"
The wounded officers had been near enough to under-
428 AT 0DD8.
stand what had oocurred: they nuuied themselves on
their elbows to look afte^ the retreating figures, and as
one of them soon after sank back exhausted on his
mattress, he observed, with a faint smile, "I am sony
that girl who first ran past us was disappointed : she
seemed so agitated and overjoyed that I suspect the
shock must have been great when she discovered her
mistake !"
The fact was, that Hilda no sooner perceived and
knew Emmeran than, utterly unable to welcome him,
she darted off under the arches of the vines, and sought
a place where she could yield without restraint to her
feelings and shed tears of bitter disappointment. She
afterwards explained the cause of her abrupt fiight to
Emmeran, laughed at the chance of her having still
longer mistaken him for Frank, and then appeared to
think no more about the matter.
But she did think of it and of Frank incessantly
during the evening, and felt so restless that on perceiv-
ing her mother reading intently, and Emmeran success-
fully engrossiDg her sister's attention, she left the draw-
ing-room, and sauntered through the still open hall-door
into the vineyard.
For more than an hour she walked beneath the rude
trellis-work over which the vines were trained, until at
length the moonUght tempted her to leave the shade
and seat herself on a wooden bench placed at the side
of the house, whence she could look into the valley
beneath and see the beautifully-situated town, and the
dark moantains beyond it. Her. contemplatldkis were
long undisturbed, and the silence around her became hy
degrees so profound that she actually started on hear-
ing the sound of Doris's harp. For a while she lis-
tened, but then stood up, conscious alike that the course
of her thoughts had been irretrievably interrupted and
MSAB AHD APART. 429
that it was time to return to the drawing-room if he
did not wish her long absence to be remarked.
Hilda entered the hooBe, but was tempted by the
open window at the end of the corridor to look once
more at the moonlit landscape. She leaned out, sup-
porting herself on the window-frame with both bands,
while her eyes glanced keenly along the outline of the
mountains, then over the vine-clad hills, and rested on
the picturesque tower between the town and the ruin
of the fortress Saint Zensburg. The intervening valley
and ascent to the mill she scarcely observed ; but a dark
object at no great distance from the house instantly
attracted her attention; it was the figure of a man
leabing against the trunk of one of the standard peach-
trees in the orchard, and so slight was the shade it
afforded him that the moon lighted every fold of the
cloak thrown over his shoulders, and fell full upon a
&ce pale as that of a corpse. Hilda's stifled exclama-
tion of surprise, or rather alairm, may have been heard
by him, for his eyes, hitherto fixed intently on the
window of the drawing-room, turned slowly towards
her^ and she drew back horror-struck on perceiving in
both figure and face an appalling resemblance to the
apparition she had seen many years previously in the
vault of the Ghapel-island.
"Doris I ^EmmeranT she gasped; but the tones of
the harp overpowered her voice, and she precipitately
retreated to the drawing-room door and threw it wide
open.
"Grood heavens I what is the matter?" cried Doris,
starting up in alarm.
"Oh, come I oh/ come! ^he is there, ^under the
tiro "
'Whor
' The bearded hussar^- -jtlBt as I saw him in the glass
480 AT OVDU.
OD H0I7 Bre, ^with the black bandage aeroes his ibre-
head, and the braided jacket. Oh, do come with me
or look oat of the window here, and 70a will Bee him
distinctly.''
Bmmeran rushed to the window, but was not very
adroit in opening it, and Hilda's trembling fingers rather
impeded than aided him : it therefore so happened that
when they all looked eagerly into the orchard there
was no trace of the mysterious hussar, and Hilda could
only point to the peach-tree and say, '' He was there :
I saw him as distinctly, no, far more distinctly than
in the mirror; and I am certain^ quite certain^ it was
the ^the very same " She hesitated.
* The same what?" asked Emmeran.
" Person, ^vision, ^apparition, ^whatever yon choose
to call it," she answered, with ill-concealed agitation,
and eyes still fixed on the trees of the orchard.
* My dear Hilda," said her mother, the apparition
of the vault was an illusion, and that of to-night merely
a wounded officer from the mill. I remarked to-day
that one of them had a prodigious beard, and, as well
as I can recollect, his head was bandaged and his arm
in a sling."
' You may be right," said Hilda, taking a long breath,
and seating herself near the window ; " but, to say the
least, the strong resemblance to what I saw in the
mirror is very singular."
" It is more singular," said her mother, " that the like-
ness did not strike you when we passed him on our way
home to-day."
'' I did not look at him," answered Hilda; '^but even
if I had, perhaps I might have required the moonlight
to rouse my memory. At all events, I must say that I
wish either he would leave the mill or we could find
apartments in another house."
NEAR AHD APABT. 481
^ Is it possible/' said Doris, " that yon tuave any su-
perstitious dread of the unfortunate man ?"
Something very like it," replied Hilda j " but, as we
are, in a manner,. compelled to remain here for the
present, and he is not likely to leave Meran, I can do
nothing but keep out of his way as much as possible^
and, when we chance to meet, avoid looking at him.''
" Ton need not give yourself much trouble/' observed
her mother, " for he has hitherto apparently avoided us,
and turned away his head so obviously to-day, that I
think he rather shrinks from being seen by any one.
He may, perhaps, have been a very handsome man, and
has now a morbid fear of people seeing him in his
present decrepit and unprepossessing state."
'* I am sure," said Hildaj '* if it were not for this unfor-
tunate resemblance, his appearance would in no way be
repulsive to me. You know, Emmeran," she added,
smiling, '^ I liked you quite as well, and Doris far better
than ever, when you were wounded, though certainly
that straw-colored beard that you allowed to grow for
some weeks was even less becoming than my specter's
black one."
" Suppose," said Emmeran, " I try to get acquainted
with this man in order to request him to shave ?"
" It would make no diflPerence," she answered, gravely;
^his wounded forehead requires a bandage, his arm is
in a sling, and the recollection of the tarnished gold I
saw on the sleeve of his jacket to-night Would still make
him in my eyes the hussar of the Chapel-island, and, as
such, an object of dread. I wish I had seen him by
daylight, or not at all."
"So do I," said her mother; '*but I trust when you
have seen him ofbener the impression will wear off."
**1 do not intend to look at him again," she answered,
4S2 AT 0]M.
'' and hope that Bmmeran will neither in jest nor eaniest
make any attempt to become acquainted with him."
*^ I have not time for any thing of the kind at present/'
said Emmeran^ laughing; " but, even if it were otherwise,
I should be at a loss for a pretext, now that you say his
, shaving off his beard would give you no satisfaction.
For my part, I think we ought to rejoice that this same
beard is of real, tangible, shavable hair.''
What else could it be V asked Hilda.
** The unreal beard of a specter, selon des rigles" he
answered, solemnly ; '* and^ if you did not admit the pos-
sibility of his shaving, we might be led to suppose the
orchard ^and perhaps the mill apd its appurtenances
haunted.''
A discussion of specters, apparitions, visions, and
wonderful dreams followed, as a matter of course, and
continued until they retired for the night. Then Hilda,
long after the others were asleep, walked up and down
her room, recalling with torturing minuteness all the
ghost stories she had ever heard or read, and comparing
them with her own Holy-Eve experience. Why she
afterwards went to the window to take another look at
the haunted orchard it would be hard to say, but she
did so, and was rewarded for her courage by again
seeing the specter of the vault apparently gazing up-
wards at the window of her room. She did not again
call her sister, or draw back in alarm : on the contrary,
she not only compelled herself to look down, but even
made an effort to open the window. The moment, how-
ever, he perceived the movement of the curtain, he
turned away and limped slowly towards the milL
My mother was right," she murmured, with a sigh
of relief: *' it is indeed one of these officers ; though what
can induce him to wander about at this hour it would
be difficult to comprehend. How ill I have kept my
BMMERAN BKMINDSD TO BUY WSDDIKQ-BINGS. 483
resolBtioii of not looking at him again ! But I am glad
I have had this opportunity of convincing myself that
he iB what he is. Perhaps I can now sleep without
dreaming of him/'
CHAPTBB XL.
HOW EMMBBAN WAS BBMINDBD TO BUT WEBDINQ-BINaS.
Madame de Bebent called on the ensuing day, ap-
parently attracted in an unusual manner towards Hilda
and her family, and determined to overcome any preju-
dices which she may have suspected they entertained
against her. When she rose to take leave, she looked
alternately from Doris to Hilda, hesitated for a moment|
and then said, ' You resemble each other so much more
than I expected, that I find it difficult to decide which
is the cousin,' and which the 'wife/ of whom I have
heard so much."
This was the first allusion that had been made to
Frank ; and Madame de Bereny^ instantly perceiving the
effect of her words, required no explanation to' enable
her to distinguish the smiling '' cousin" from the deeply-
blushing " wife."
Have you heard from Colonel O'More lately V she
aaked, turning at once to Hilda.
"Yes; the day before yesterday.*'
"And how is he ?"
" Quite well, thank you."
Does he write in good spirits ?"
"Very much so."
^ *' Then you may be sure he baa got the Theresian
-37
434 AT ODDS.
Cross at last ! I always thought he would, bat feared
he might lose his life in the effort to obtain it."
Hilda forced a smile, though her mortification at Frank's
not haying allowed her to participate in his hopes on
this occasion was so intense that she answered, almost
resentfully, 'I have no doubt that he periled his life,
but thank Goodness he has not lost it, for such a
bauble!"
* Bauble f" repeated Madame de'Bereny. "Do not
ever let him hear you use such a word when speaking of
his Theresian Gross. Surely you must be aware that it
is the greatest of military honors,.only to be obtained
by some act of successful heroism producing results of
acknowledged importance ? And you may be quite sure
that he will think more of this bauble,' as you call it,
than of having received the command of his regiment.
I know if any one I loved had a chance of this decora-
tion I should hardly be able to think or speak of any
thing else I Mity I hope that you will write or send me
word as soon as you obtain any certain information on
the subject?"
Hilda slightly bowed her head, and answered, ''I am
sure Frank would feel immensely flattered if he knew
the interest you take in his affairs."
''He knows it perfectly well," said Madame de Bereny,
a little piqued at her haughty manner: '4t is quite un-
necessary to tell Frank O'More how much I like and
admire him I"
Hilda's color mounted to her temples, but, before she
could answer, Doris interposed. "Every one likes and
admires Frank," she said, quickly, ' and nothing can
give my sister greater pleasure than hearing that people
do so : we only fear he knows it too well, and suspect
if it were not for us he would be completely spoiled."
He told me," said Madame de Bereny, that ' Cousia
SMHSaAN BSMINDED TO BUT WKDDING-BINGS. 435
Doiifi' kept him in great order; bat he seemed to like
her all the better for it."
"Then I hope/' answered Doris, gayly, "you also
kept him in order ? though I cannot remember that he
ever said so."
"What did he say of me?" she asked, with evident
interest.
Doris hesitated before she replied, " He spoke with
much gratitude of your and Colonel de Bereny's hos-.
pitaUty."
"Was that all ?" said Madame de Bereny : " I hoped it
was to his eulogiums and personal esteem I owed the
pleasure of becoming acquainted with you."
Doris knew not what to say, and looked towards her
sister for assistance.
" In feet," said Hilda, with a slightly ironical smile,
" there is no doubt that he found your society singularly
attractive, for he acknowledged that he was every day
and all day in your house."
At this moment their mother entered the room, she
had just returned from a walk in one of the neighboring
vineyards, and immediately invited Madame de Bereny
to remain to " marende " a sort of afternoon luncheon
usual in Tyrol. But the invitation was politely declined,
Madame de Bereny saying she feared the delay might
oblige her to return home in a storm that had been
threatening for some hours, and, the sound of distant
thunder confirming her words, she drew her shawl round
her and walked towards the door.
Emmeran, who had been present during the greater
part of her ^isit, immediately proposed accompanying
her to the town, and his escort was accepted with a
smile that lit up her whole countenance and gave it at
once both youth and beauty.
Hilda walked to the window, looked after them, and
486 AT ODDS.
then exclaimed, ^Doris; do come here ! She has taken
his arm, and is leaning uon it as if she were descending
a precipitoos mountain !"
Why not/' said DoriS| '^ when he proposed himself
as walking-stick ?"
' And now she is giving him her parasol to cany."
Doris laughed.
"Is it possible/' cried Hilda; "that her coquetry
. amuses you 7 or did you really not obserre her efforts to
attract Emmeran's attention and draw him into oonver-
satioD almost all the time she was here 7"
" I observed/' answered Doris, smiling archly, * that
Emmeran was very willing both to be attracted and
drawn into conversation; and I was extremely glad of
it, for you were so much less agreeable than usoal, or
rather so unlike yourself, that your presence at last
became absolutely a restraint on me."
"My presence a restraint 1" repeated Hilda.
" Yes, dear; for I should have liked to have made heir
talk of Frank, but the fear of irritating you or givin^^
you an opportunity of making sarcastic little speeches
prevented me."
" And yet/' said Hilda, " I really tried to like her, and
partly succeeded, until her manner to Emmeran convinced
me that slie is one of those women who can only find
pleasure in the society of men, and never relax in their
efforts to captivate them."
" I confess," said Doris, "that I too liked her better
before than after Emmeran joined us : nevertheless, her
nearly total disregard of us afterwards, and determina-
tion to make him talk, was very amusing."
" Be candid, Doris, and say at once you perceived her
effort to attract him, and disapproved of it."
" I had not arrived at disapprobation/' said Doris :
** on the contrary, I could not help admiring her quick-
XHHEEAN EEMINDED TO BUY WEDDING-filNGS. 437
ness in discovering the way to please him, and the con
sammate skill with which she managed to put him into
perfect good humor with himself, consequently with her
also, and perhaps with all the world/'
' Well, Doris, as you don't seem to mind her finding
out the way to please him, of course I can have no ob-
jection : on the contrary, if you would not think me
very ill-natured, I should rather like him to be subject
to her wiles just long enough ^to make you jealous for
five short minutes I"
Doris shook her head. ^' Madame de Bereny could
not make me jealous for five short seconds/' she said,
quietly.
"The fact is," said Hild^i, a little impatiently, "you
have never cared enough for any man to know even
the meaning of the word."
" In the present instance," said Doris, " I am suffi-
ciently convinced of Emmeran's affection to have no
^rt of objection to his finding other women as hand^
some or as agreeable as they really happen to be."
"Now," said Hilda, "although I perceive by my
mother's face that you have spoken reasonably and
rightly, you must allow me to doubt the warmth of
your affection for him if you can really feel so very
indifferent on this subject."
"You are unjust," replied Doris, smiling; "my affec-
tion may be of a colder description than yours, but it is
strong, and not much subject to change of any kind."
" Doris," said Hilda, bending over her sister's chair
until their faces touched each other, " your affection is
perfect as far as your relations^ and friends are con-
cerned, but surely you feel something more for Emme-
ran, to whom you are about to be married so very
soon f "
" I feel," said Doris, " that I cannot give a more con-
37*
438 AT ODBB.
Tincing proof of affection than having consented to paetf
the rest of my life with him, and I helieve he is reason-
able enongh to be satisfied.'^
' I may as well be so too/' said Hilda, langhing, "for
this is one of the subjects that I know yon will not dis-
cass with any one/'
Doris nodded her head, and the conversation ended.
The storm passed over, the rain ceased; and, after a
snnset in brilliant clouds, the moon rose so bright and
clear that Doris, Hilda, and their mother were tempted
into the vineyard, and were walking there when Emme-
ran sauntered sedately towards them.
" "We don't mind your having supped with Madame de^
Bereny," said Hilda, glancing laughingly towards her
sister.
" I have had no supper," he replied.
** Nor," she continued, in the same tone, " nor have
we any objection to your finding her as handsome or as
agreeable as she really happens to be."
''That is fortunate," he answered, ''for she is un-
doubtedly both the one and the other."
"Indeed?"
''Decidedly; as well as I can judge during a short
morning visit, and still shorter walk into Meran."
" Perhaps also in her own house ?" suggested Hilda.
" I was not in it."
"Then Where were you all this time?" she asked,
with some amazement.
" Tell Doris to question me, and you shall hear my
adventures," he answered, seating himself on the bench
before the house.
Doris sat down beside him; but her question was,
"Shall we not first desire Janet to order you some
supper ?"
' I have already sent a message to that effect," he
XMMKaAN aXMINDSD TO BUY WSBDINChBINQS. 439
answered, smiling, " and, as Hilda will fancy I have fallen
in love with Madame de Bereny if I do not satisfacto-
rily account for every quarter of an hour of my ab-
sence, I must tell you that I urged your fair visitor,
without any sort of ceremony, to walk more quickly
than she perhaps ever did before in her life/'
"We saw you carefully supporting her down the
hin," observed Hilda.
'*And you might afterwards have seen me almost
carrying her over the bridge," he answered. "The
wind there nearly took her off her feet, and blew us
both about in a most disagreeable manner; we after-
wards actually ran into the town, and only recovered
our breath under the arcades."
" And you call that an adventure ?" said Hilda.
" No, that was only the beginning : we walked under
the shelter of the arcades until the first violent torrents
of rain were over, and then I conducted Madame de
Bereny to her lodgings."
" Well, go on," she said, perceiving that he paused.
" On my way home afterwards," he continued, " I had
reached the mill, and was walking quickly past it, when
some of the people there rushed out, and in a very inco-
herent manner informed me that one of the Hungarian
officers lodging in their house had just died in a most
sudden and unexpected manner."
" Which of them ?" asked Hilda, quickly.
"Not the one you have seen," he answered, very
gravely ; " it was a very young man, who has only been
here a couple of weeks."
" Are you sure quite sure ^there is no mistake ?"
"Yes; for the miller and his wife requested me to
visit ' their colonel,' as they called the other. It seems
he had insisted on their procuring him a horse to ride
into the town, that he might find out the address of a
440 AT ODDS.
oertain Protestant clergyman who had visited him here
some time agO| but had since gone to Botzen; they
hoped I woald undertake the commission, and not let
him attempt what would be so dangerous for him, as he
bad already nearly bled to death twice since he came ta
the mill."
" Nearly bled to death !" repeated Hilda. " No won-
der he looks so ghastly pale I"
*'No wonder, indeed P said Emmeran, thoughtfully;
** but his chief illness now appears to be weakness."
. " Then," said Doris, " he only requires to be taken
good care of; and I hope he has a servant who is at-
tached to him."
" They told me," answered Emmeran, " that he had
one when he first came to Meran, but suddenly sent
him back to his regiment about the time you came
here, and injudiciously supplied his place with the son
of a peasant, ^a mere boy^ who could not even tell me
his master's name !"
" You inquired, of course, before you went up*stairs ?"
" I asked a few questions, which were very unsatis-
fiictorily answered ; and the only thing I discovered was,
that every one at the mill was more or less charmed
with this colonel, in spite of the elf-locks, cadaverous
appearance, and bandaged head that so horrified
Hilda." ^
' I am sure," said Doris, ' if Hilda could manage to
see him by daylight she would discover that the chief
resemblance to her apparition consisted in the pale face
and black beard."
" She is not likely to see him by daylight," answered
Emmeran, evasively, ^^ as he greatly dislikes being ob-
served by any one ; and the people at the mill say that
for this reason be h^s latterly only gone out late in the
evening or at night."
XHmBAN BIMINDXD TO BUT WSBDINO-BINOS. 441
^ I begin to feel interested about hitsi" said Boris,,
^^and am oarions to hear what ooonrred when yon
gained admittanoe to his room/' '
^1 fLret sent np my name and offered my services/'
he oontinnedy ''and after some demur he oonsentecl to
see me."
Here Emmeran paused.
"Well/' said Boris, ''and then yon went np-stairs
and saw him ?"
'Not exactly; for he did not immediately enter the
room to which I had been conducted, bat through the
partly-open door into the adjoining apartment I per-
ceived that he was standing by the bed and closing the
eyes of his dead comrade."
Emmeran paused again.
"You waited, of course?" said Boris.
" Yes ^I waited ^long ; but at length he turned round,
opened the door, and came towards me."
" And immediately accepted your offer f"
Yes no that is, I forget exactly what he said or I ^
said at first : I looked at his bandaged head and wounded
arm and stiff leg, poor fellow, and I ^I thought of
Hilda and the vault and in short, I never was so
shocked in all my life !"
^'Then he does resemble the apparition?" said
Hilda, starting up. " And how great must be the like-
ness when it struck even you so forcibly I Oh, mother,
I do wish you could be induced to spend the winter
elsewhere ! Only think of having this man so near us
for months 1"
" But," said her mother, "would not a removal from
the immediate neighborhood of the mill answer our pur-
pose just as well ? It is not probable that he will follow
ns Into the town, should we go there."
"Stay!" said Emmeran. "I have spoken very un-
442 AT ODDB.
gQardedlji and did not intend to say so miidx. That
this man reaembles the description Hilda gave of the
apparition I cannot deny, bat I imagine that many
other wounded officers woald do so quite as accurately;
and were this one to take off his black bandage and
shave off even part of his beard, I am convinced the
annoying likeness would be destroyed at once/'
^ He would still be the same man/' said Hilda; '^and
I feel an unconquerable dread of bis having some my-
terious influence over my destiny. Laugh at me as
much as you please, Emmeran; but I cannot overcomo
this feeling."
Emmeran did not laugh, or even smile, and it was with
a sort of forced cheerfulness that he answered, '^ Let ua
rather say no more about the matter. I have only to
conclude my account' of myself by telling you that I
undertook to find out the address of the Protestant cler-
gyman, and was successful; the letter now on its way
to Botzen will probably bring him to Meran the day
after to-morrow, and I have been thinking, Dons, we
might as well take advantage of his being here, and
ask him to perform the Protestant marriage ceremony
for us."
"I hope, however," said Doris, "you will defer your
request to him until his services are no longer required
by others."
"I hope so too," said Hilda; "for, as it is, you bring
death and marriage strangely in contrast."
' I acknowledge," said Emmeran, " that I rather ex-
pected Hilda to oppose my plan for this very reason ;
but," he added, turning to her, " but you really must
begin to restrain this inclination to superstitious thoughts
on all occasions, or you will cause yourself, and perhaps
others, much unnecessary uneasiness."
You are quite right," answered Hilda, ' and X would
EMMXKAN BSBaNDSD TO BUT WEDDIMG-BINGB. 448
make the effort if it were possible to forget that un-
lucky Holy Eve, and all that occurred afterwards in the
cathedral at XTlm to remind me of i *'
' The best cure/' suggested Emmeran, '^ would be our
finding out that some one had actually managed to con-
ceal himself in the vault that night/'
Hilda, who had latterly been walking backwards and
forwards before them, now stopped, and, fixing her eyes
on Emmeran, asked, eagerly, ^* Were you there V*
" No : but it may have been Frank ; for, as well as I
can recollect, you never asked either of us the question
in direct words/'
" And how," asked Hilda, ' how do you account for
the ring that came to light so unexpectedly V
"I forgot the ring completely," he answered, thought-
fiilly; 'but I dare say it could be accounted for in an
equally rational manner."
''Let us," said Hilda, a little ironically, 'Met us, for
instance, suppose you threw it slyly on the ground that
it might there be found; but still you will have no
objection, I should think, to Doris's procuring one for
you in a more satisfactory manner 7"
" Thank you at least for the hint," answered Emmeran,
laughing. " I shall buy both my own ring and Doris's
in Meran to-morrow."
444 AT ODB
CHAPTER XLL
THE SOnOE OHAKQSB.
Doris's marriage, or rather her mamages, took place
three days later: the first in all the quiet privacy of a
small drawing-room, the second in the St. George's
Catholic Chnrch near the mill. The Waldering &mily
walked in a perfectly unostentations manner through
part of the vineyard and orchard to the chnrch, and
were not a little surprised to find it so crowded with
peasants that they and their Mends found some difficulty
in reaching the altar.
' That Doris was dressed in white, with flowing vail and
chaplet of myrtle and orange blossom, was a matter of
course; that Hilda appeared in a dress of precisely the
same material, with merely a wii^th of green leaves on
her head, stamped her at once as bridesmaid in the minds
pf the admiring spectators.
I Now,' Hilda's wreath was composed of tastefhlly-
arranged willow-leaves, and instantly attracted the
attention of a man who stood outside the church, his
straw hat drawn down over his bandaged forehead, his
figure concealed by a long cloak, and the deep interest
he felt in the marriage taking place made mamfest by
his eager glance and quick, hard breathing.
In the Boman Catholic Church marriage is a sacrament,
and the upturned eyes and moving lips of the greater part
of the congregation soon proved that if they had come
to gase they remained to pray; and when the venerable
priest, with his long snow-white hair, ruddy cheeks, and
THE SCENE CHANGES. 445
'mild blue eyes, encircled Emmeran's and Doris's hands
with the stole, and pronounced the solemn words, '^ Con-
jungo V08," the assembled peasants, with a loud sinrnl-
taneous movement, sank on their knees, unconscious of
the deep impression which their prostrate figures made
on the one sad spectator who continued* to stand, or
rather lean, in rigid helplessness against the side of the
doorway.
The autumn sun sent bright-colored rays through the
painted glass windows on the bridal party as they waited
for the crowd to disperse; but curiosity had again re-
gained its place in the minds of the peasants : they col-
lected together, forming a lane, through which Emmeran
instantly perceived that he and Doris were expected to
pass and submit to be stared at ; and he therefore drew
her arm within his and moved forward.
It has been ol^erved that some people have an
instantaneous consciousness of eyes fixed intently on
them; and either for this reason, or in consequence of
some slight impediment in passing the threshold of the
church, Doris suddenly looked up and saw close to her
the pallid, agitated face of the officer from the mill.
Doubt, consternation, and dismay were successively re-
flected in- her expressive features ; while a hectic flush
that passed acros*s the invalid's cheeks seemed sud-
. denly to confirm her worst apprehensions, and she
grasped Emmeran 's arm in a vain endeavor to make
him stop, or at least retard his progress. For the first
time in her life she found him inattentive to her
wishes; he even drew her forward after she found
voice to gasp out the words, " Wait, oh, wait a mo-
ment!'' and he continued to stride on, though aware
that her head was turned backwards, and nothing but
his restraining hand prevented her from leaving his
side.
38
446 AT ODDS.
^'Emmeranl" she whispered, breathlessly, ' didn't
you see him J Didn't you know him?"
'^Yes, dearest; bat yon must restrain your feelings,
both for his sake and poor Hilda's: she most not be
told that he is here/'
Doris made a great effort, and regained her self^pofik
session so completely that when they reached the honse
she was able to speak to her friends, and make a plansi*
ble excuse for leaving them by expressing a desire to
change her dress. Her heightened color and flurried
manner when whispering a few words to Emmeran as
she passed him was so natural that it excited no at-
tention, still less that he should afterwards sit down
beside his charming sister-in-law and assist her to do
the honors of the breakfast-table.
In the mean time Doris rushed up the stairs to her
room, pulled the flowers and vail from her hair, threw
a long gray traveling-cloak over her shoulders, and,
taking her bonnet in her hand, ran down the stairs
and out of the house, not stopping for a moment until
she found herself at the entrance of the mill. For-
tunately, the family were at their early dinner, and she
was able to continue her journey uninterrupted to the
part of the house in which the room she sought was
situated.
She knocked with unhesitating impatience, and on
receiving permission to enter sprang forward with a
stifled cry of anguish, and threw herself on her knees
beside the couch on which her wounded cousin lay.
"Oh, Frank, what a meeting what a parting is this!"
was all she could utter before her pent-up feelings found
relief in a passionate burst of tears.
Frank's lips quivered. "You know me, Doris, ^in
spite of all disfigurement?"
She looked up for a moment, but immediately after-
THE SCENE CHANGES. 447
wards baried her bead in the sofa-cushion and sobbed
aloud.
" I understand you," he said, gently; " I am indeed a
finghtfal object to look at, and it is for this reason
that I have kept Hilda in ignorance of my present
state."
"No, Prank, no: it is not that I am and she
will be ^far more afflicted now than had she heard the
truth at, a time when her fears would have served as
preparation for the shock. Your letters ^your cheer-
ful letters have deceived us completely, cruelly."
" No, Dorisj darling, there was no cruelty to you, or
Hilda, or my aunt, in this concealment. It was at
first said that I was mortally wounded, then I nearly
died of fever. Suppose Hilda had proposed coming to
mer
' You need not suppose," said Doris, raising her head
and pushing back her disheveled hair. "You may bo
quite sure she would have gone to you 1 And she will
come to you now, and no longer hesitate to tell you how
devotedly she loves you I"
"Not yet," said Frank, raising himself upright,
while Doris seated herself on a footstool beside the
aofa. "I cannot allow Hilda to be told either that I
am here, or wounded; for I should doubt any demon-
stration of affection from her now, or at least not value
it as I ought, from the suspicion that compassion
alone prompted it. The thought is natural, Doris,
after having so signally failed to overcome her pride at
Innsbruck."
" Oh, Frank, how little you know Hilda's, or any
woman's, heart I"
I know yours," he said, bending down and looking
into her overflowing eyes until his own filled with tears.
" I know yours so well, Doris, that were I even torn to
448 AT ODDS.
pieces by a cannon-ball, like poor Louis d'Esterre, 1
could wish to see you without a moment's fear that you
would love me less."
"Has Louis been so dangerously wounded?*' asked
DoriS| with compassionate interest.
"He is dead!" answered Frank, "and I niust speak
of his death, as he sent you a message which I promised
to deliver to you."
"You were able to be of use to him?" said Doris;
*' you consoled him in his last moments ?"
" N o," said Frank, reluctantly : " I saw him during
the battle of Wagram lying under a tree in a state I
dare not describe to you, ^in short, mortally wounded,
^and should not even have known him had he not
called to me. I dismounted, and he requested me to
take from him your miniature, of which he confessed he
had possessed himself without permission at Ulm and
ever since worn next his heart. You must forgive him,
Boris: he loved you more than you supposed, and de-
sired me to tell you so with almost his last breath, poor
fellow I"
" Then you saw him die?"
" He asked me to shoot him, Doris, asked me to put
him out of torture that must end in death; but I was a
coward, and could not do it."
"And you were obliged to leave him in that state?"
said Doris, breathlessly.
"No: he persuaded one of our men to have com-
passion on him. I only heard the shot, Doris, but felt
as if the bullet had struck my own heart too. It was a
mental wound that will never heal, that will bleed
whenever it is touched, as long as I live !"
" How horrible !" murmured Doris, covering her face
with her hands.
"I wish I had not spoken of him," said Frank; " but*
THE SCENS CHANGES. 449
anfortanately, he was in my thoughts when you came
into the room; for I had been considering how I could
manage to send you the miniature, that you might give
it to Emmeran as a wedding-present"
"It belongs to my mother," said Doris; "and if I
give it to her now she will inevitably ask where I
found it."
" Then," said Frank, " you must keep it yourself for
the present, as I cannot give you permission to tell her.
I wish I had resolution to leave the mill; but it is hard
to resign the pleasure of sitting at this window and
seeing Hilda so frequently, especially since my fears of
being recognized by her have been nearly removed by
Emmeran, who told me that she had resolved not to look
at me again because I reminded her of the specter she
saw in the- '*
At this moment a hasty step on the stairs, and imme
diately afterwards an unceremonious hand on the lock
of the door, made Doris snatch up her bonnet f^om the
floor; but before she had time to put it on her head
Emmeran entered the room. "Doris," he said, half
apologetically, Iwas obliged to propose coming for
you, or else Hilda would have gone to your room, dis-
covered your absence, and the consequences niight have
been fatal to Frank's secret. Have you told him that
he will soon see us again 7 ^that we return to Heran
for the winter?" '
fl have not had time to speak of our plans," she an-
swered, "but am now sorry we cannot remain here alto-
gether, as yoi% might have visited Frank daily, and even
I could have managed to see and speak to him occasion-
ally."
" We can do so when we come back," said Emmeran,
cheerfully; "and in the mean time Frank must take
care of himself, and grow strong and handsome again.
38*
450 . AT ODDS.
I quite approve of his former^ and can perfectly under'
Btand hid present, motives fpr concealment/'
"I can not^** said Boris; ''and I am sure that Hilda
would feel as I do, and only love him ten times better
for all these wounds.'' While speaking, she pushed aside
the black bandage, raised the thick hair from his temple,
and kissed repeatedly the still red scar she had exposed
to view.
"Farewell, Frank!" she said, with difficulty restrain-
ing her tears. '* Farewell! but only for a few weeks.
I do not think I can wait until winter to see yon
again."
Frank stood np, embraced her in silence, looked after
her as she left the room, and then wrung Emmeran's
hand without making an attempt to speak.
^'Emmeran, I cannot yet go to the drawing-room,''
said Doris, stopping at the foot of the staircase : '' it
would be impossible for me to think or speak of any
thing but Frank at present; but my not yet having
changed my dress, and Janet requiring directions about
packing, will serve to excuse me a little longer."
The dress was changed, and Janet had carried off the
wedding-garment; but still Doris liugered in her room,
walking about uneasily for some time, until at last,
throwing herself on her knees, she covered her face
with her hands. It was so that Hilda found her at the
end of half an hour, and, though she st^d up imme-
diately, and forced a smile while listening to her sister's
playful reproaches for having played truant so long,
there was something in the expression of her Etce that
made Hilda first hesitate, then stop suddenly and at
THE SCENE CHANGES. 461
last, alter a pause, exclaim, Doris, what is the matter?
Something dreadful has happened ^"
" It might have been worse," she answered, turning
away; "but, even as it is, I hesitate to tell you/'
A horrible suspicion flashed through Hilda's mind ; she
put her arm round her sister, and whispered, "You are
not unhappy? ^you do not repent your marriage?"
'*No, oh, no!" said Doris, quickly. "It was not of
myself that I have been thinking; it was of you and
of Prank."
"Dear Doris, how very kind of you ! But indeed you
must not look so disheartened about us, as I have now
sot the slightest doubt that our next meeting will unite
us for life. Will you not come down-stairs? I fear if
you remain here any longer our friends may think "
"Never mind what they think 1" exclaimed Doris,
-with such unusual impatience that Hilda was not only
silenced, but so astonished that she gazed at her sister
in stronger interrogation than any words could have
expressed. And she was understood; for Doris soon
continued : " You may well be surprised, Hilda ; but you
must have patience for a few minutes. I have some-
thing that I wish to tell you, that I believe I must tell
you, though I know I am not at liberty to do so. It is
true," she added, rather speaking to herself than her
sister, " it is true that no promise of secrecy was exacted,
and none made; but it was understood, I know it was;
and the reliance on my silence was so great that not
even an injunction was given me I"
'* Now, pray, Doris, don't exC^ite my curiosity any
further if you have no intention of telling me your
secret, whatever it may be."
"It is not mine," said Doris: "it is the secret of
another person, and mere sophistry my trying to con-
sider myself at liberty to divulge it. But I feel certain
452 AT ODD8.
of pardon hereafter, ^pardon from all concerned ; yet
nothing could overcome my scruples of conscience but
a dread of the responsibility of leaving you here for
months in ignorance of what so nearly concerns you."
* Then tell mo all about it, Doris, and I will proniise
any amount of secrecy and discretion that may be
yecessaiy."
*'Tour words are well chosen/' said Doris, placing
her hand on her sister's. * I require both from you."
" Well, go on'j I premise."
"Promise solemnly," continued Doris, "that nothing,
nothing will tempt you, by word or deed, to betray your
knowledge of what I am about to tell you. Bemember,
1 warn you beforehand that you will be severely tried,
and that no entreaties by letter will induce me to release
you from your engagement."
For a moment Hilda hesitated, then looked intently
at her sister's grave face, thought suddenly of Madame
de Bereny, and ended by pledging herself to secrecy as
solemnly as was required of her.
"Hilda," began Doris, "did you see the wounded
officer fr^m the mill standing at the door as we came
out of church ?"
"No," she answered, rather surprised at the question:
" the effort to get through the crowd and overtake you
and Emmeran prevented me from looking at any one,
and I fortunately did not see him."
" But I did," said Doris, slowly; " I saw him distinctly^
and was so near him that I could perceive his face flush
and his eyes fill with tears as I passed. There was
something in the expression of his eyes that attracted
me even more than their form and color, though both
were familiar ^very familiar ^to me."
^Some one we knew at Ulm ?" suggested Hilda.
THE SCENE CHANGES. 463
"At Ulra? Yes," said Doris, completely perplexed by
tier unconscionsness.
'^J^ot Major Pallersberg, I hopeT' said Hilda.
'^ Mamma would be so shocked I"
"No," answered Doris, sadly; "but she will indeed be
greatly shocked, as much as I was, ^but scarcely as
mnch as you will be I"
"Hal" cried Hilda, suddenly alarmed; "but no! it is
Impossible! Oh, Doris," she added, with a trembling
smile, "you have tortured me unpardonably."
" No, dear Hilda, I have only prepared you for what
yon must hear, for what is bad enough, but might be
far worse. The wounded officer is "
"Don't say it!" cried Hilda, vehemently; "this is
some horrible fancy of yours. There may be a likeness,
I will not deny it ; but oh, Doris, you must not expect
me to believe that the ghastly invalid at the mill is my
noble, handsome Frank !"
Doris slowly moved her head in sad confirmation.
"It cannot be!" continued Hilda, with increasing
agitation; "you are ^you must be mistaken. Doris,
dear Doris, say that it is so : you forget that I have
received letters from him with the Znaim postmark on
them."
"They were written here," said Doris, "and sent to
Hajor Pallerpberg to be posted there."
"How can you know that?"
" Emmeran told me sa as we walked from the mill to-
gether about half an hour ago."
" Then you have already been there ? ^you and Em-
meran have seen him ?"
"Yes."
"Spoken to him?"
"Yes."
Pale as death, Hilda sat down on the nearest chair.
454 AT ODDS.
Her doubts were at an end, her hopes that Doris might
have been mistaken extingaished ; but her grief was at
first too acate for ntteranee, and she remained motion-
less, pressing her clasped hands on her hearty and breath-
ing audibly, while her sister bent over her, snggesting
every consolation that coald be offered. ' I am sure,"
she said, in condosion, you will at least acknowledge
we ought to be thankful that his life was spared when
tens of thousands fell I"
"Yes, dear," panted Hilda, " I am very thankful"
"Besides," continued Doris, Emmeran assures me
that Frank's complete recovery is now merely a ques-
tion of time."
" And care, Doris," cried Hilda, suddenly rousing her-
self; "and care! And you will release me from my
thoughtless promise, and let me take care of him? ^won't
you, dearest ?"
" I cannot" said Doris, firmly, " for Frank will not
have it so: he said he should doubt any demonstration
of affection from you now, or, at least, not value it as
he ought, from the suspicion that it was prompted alone
by compassion."
"How little he knows me I" cried Hilda, passionately.
"I told him so," continued Doris; "but men cannot
understand us on such occasions ; for even Emmeran said
he approved of Frank's former, and perfectly understood
his present, motives for concealment."
" I believe," said Hilda, " from what he once said when
speaking of Colonel Bereny, that I can guess his mo-
tives for silence in the first instance; but his reason for
not seeing me now is as unjust as it is ungenerous!"
" It seems so," answered Doris; "but, when you take
into consideration your former quarrels and misunder-
standings, there is some excuse for him. Besides, it
would be unreasonable to expect him to remain altogether
THE SCnifS 0HANQE8. 455
mioonscioaB of his great personal advantages, or their
value in the opinion of most people, and yon must there-
fore forgive him if he attribute at least part of your
regard to what the world has forced him to consider
one of his chief merits. In short, Hilda, it is evident
that he is unwilling you should see him in a state that
he imagines would only cause you to pity him/'
' This is a hard punishment for my pride and jeal*
ousy," said Hilda, "and proves that my letters have not
made him forget either. I can now only hope that he
is not so ill as he appears to be, that he does not abso-
lutely require the care and attention he spurns so un
kindly."
^He is greatly emaciated," answered Doris; ^'but I
believe his wounds are nearly all healed, and the one
on his forehead will bcaroely be perceived when the scar
is no longer red."
"And his arm?"
''Is only in a sling: perhaps he cannot yet move it^
for the sleeve of his jacket was cut open."
' But he walks with a crutch, Doris ; and I fear ^I
fear "
Doris remembered that Frank had raised himself on
the sofa with great difficulty, and had required a crutch
when he stood up; she turned away, saying, "I don't
know ; I hope not."
"Doris," cried Emmeran, knocking at the door, "the
carriage is packed, and our guests are preparing to take
leave."
' I am coming," she answered, tying on her bonnet
and taking up her gloves.
"One moment!" cried Hilda. "May I tell my mo-
ther?"
" Yes, but only on the same conditions that I have told
yon^ ^a promise of secrecy, which I know she will keep.
456 AT ODDS.
Tell hor that I have betrayed Frank, not only to pre-
vent yon from leaving this house in order to avoid him,
but also in the hope that, if circamstances favor yoa,
means may be found to induce him by degrees to lay
aside his incognito."
Doris spoke these last words as they descended the
stairs together; and they were soon after in the midst
of noisily sympathizing friends, who naturally supposed
that Doris's heavy tearful eyelids and Hilda's colorless
lips were caused by their approaching separation.
What occurred during the succeeding quarter of an
hour appeared to Hilda like a feverish dream. She heard
the murmuring of voices without distinguishing the
words; she looked at her mother, and wondered bow she
could smile so brightly and seem so happy; and then she
followed the others when they descended the steps that
led alike to the miller's wine-cellars and the gateway
opening on the road. She felt herself embraced by
Doris and Emmeran, and saw the carriage drive off,
forced a smile, and tried to appear interested in what
was said during the procrastinated leave-taking of the
assembled guests; but no sooner was the gate closed
upon the last of them than she turned round, flew up
the stairs to her room, locked the door, and yielded to
her painfully-restrained grief without control.
Some time elapsed before her mother thought it ad-
visable to follow her and propose a walk in the surround-
ing vineyards. Hilda opened the door, but turned away
her head while saying that she did not feel much in-
clined to go out. Her mother drew her towards her,
looked affectionately at her agitated face, and said, with
a smile, "Your anxiety about Doris is unnecessary, dear
Hilda. I wish I were as sure of your happiness as I am
of hers."
"Of that," said Hilda, "there is no chance. My hap-
THE fiCENK CHANQEtf. 457
piness was lost in the cathedral at Ulm; and I now
know but too well that Prank not only never cared for
m, but even doubts my affection for himJ'
''Have you heard from him again?" asked her mo-
ther, quickly.
''No, but I have heard of him i he does not want or
wish to see me."
''Jealous again, Hilda!" said her mother, sitting down,
with a look of resignation. " Gome, then ; tell me all
about it, and, as Doris is no longer here, I must take her
place, and laugh at or scold you as the case may be."
"Bather say," answered Hilda, seating herself on a
footstool, and placing her arm and head on her mother's
knee, " rather say you will take her place and console
me, if you can."
" I shall try to do so," said her mother, with a quiet
smile ] " and now tell me what you have heard of him !"
But Hilda, in her turn, felt the difficulty of commu-
nicating ill tidings to a person unprepared to hear them,
an({, when urged to speak, answered, hesitatingly, "I
ought to try to tell you, as Doris told me -"
" Doris?" repeated her mother, surprised.
"Tes; but first of all I must obtain a promise of se-
crecy from you."
The promise was given without a moment's hesitation;
and then Hilda suddenly raised her head, and, in a few
passionate sentences, explained all.
468 AT OMM.
OHAPTBBXLn.
MONX 80 BUND A8 THOBB WHO WILIi NOT MX.
Uiuda'b grief Bubsided hy degrees into resignation.
She spoke constantly of Frank, and found her mother
not only a patient and indolgent listener, but even in-
clined to join her in any feasible plan likely to induce
him to betray himself. For a whole week he kept more
oat of sight than ever, the most snltry weather no longer
tempting him to seek shade beneath the chestnut-trees,
or the mildest evenings inducing him, as had been his
wont, to sit at the door of the mill until the darkness
permitted him to limp unseen in the sheltered walks of
the vineyard. Tired, however, of the confinement, he
at length resolved to undertake some short excursions
in the neighborhood; and, as few can be made otherwise
than on foot or on horseback, he first used the miller's
little carriage to visit Lana and the Badl, and then hired
one of his horses to ride to the castle of Tyrol. It was
seeing this animal undergoing very unusual ablations
that induced Hilda to make inquiries as to the cause.
''The colonel, ma'am, feels himself so much bettex
that he is going to ride to Tyrol."
" But is that horse safe ?" she asked, with an anxious
glance towards the forefeet, which seemed somewhat
impaired by heavy draught.
" Lord bless you, ma'am ! the colonel's servant, as
was here before you came, told us bis master could ride
any 'os# "
KONS SO BLINP AS THOSE WHO WILL NOT SEE. 45H
"I have no doubt of tbat," said Hilda; "bnt with a
wounded arm and and the leg "
" You may be right there," said the man, looking up;
*^ that leg is less than no use to him, and he knows it,
too ; for he told me to bring a chair and a man to help
him to mount, and to be sure to choose a tinie when no
one was likely to see him.''
"Are you or is the man you spoke of going with
him r asked Hilda.
" No, ma'am i I offered, but he wouldn't hear of such
a thing!"
" And," said Hilda, "if the horse make a false step on
those paved roads, and he has not strength to pull him
up, what will be the consequence V
" Bad enough, ma'am ; but when I recommended him
to look sharp, especially coming down hill, he said his
right arm was still fit for service, ^nd I needn't have no
fears either for him or for the 'oss, ma'am."
Hilda went immediately to her mother and informed
her of Frank's intention, adding a wish to follow him to
the castle of T;^rol, if it could be done without exciting
his suspicions.
" Let us take chance for that," answered her mother,
"and send at once for horses; but, as neither they nor
the roads are likely to tempt us to go out of a walk, I
propose that we engage peasants to lead them. We
must not set out for at least half an hour after Frank,
and can take Hans with us in case we should return
late."
"Is there no danger of his recognizing Frank?"
asked Hilda.
"I think not; but what matter if he do? I could
almost wish that Janet had not gone away with Doris :
she went so often to the mill that a meeting with Frank
In the end would have been certain, and equally certain
460 AT OJDM.
that she would have known him, and would neither
have made a promise of secrecy nor considered herself
bonnd to be silent nnder such circamstances. The
question now is, can 70a see Frank with the necessary
ooraposore, and, if I am able to persaade him that we do
not recognize him, can you speak to him as a stranger?''
*' I will try," said Hilda; ' I must try, as there is no
alternative between avoiding him altogether or Jseeping
my promise to Doris."
Before they set oat on their excursion, Hilda received
a letter from Frank, in which he informed her that he
had at last obtained the object of his ambition, a The-
resian Cross, was to be made baron, and, if she ap-
proved, would take the name of More von Garvagh.
" These honors," observed her mother, " have pro-
bably already more than consoled him for his wounds ;
and I am convinced, if it were not for this eccentric
concealment from you, he would be perfectly happy."
"And so should I," answered Hilda; ** but you seem
to oversee the unkindness of his requiring concealment
from me alone! I^ow, I should like to know," she
added, thoughtfully, "whether or not Madame de Be-
reny knew all this when she was here last week. Frank's
letter bears the date of that very day, and he may have
seen her in fact, he may have often seen her before
we came to Meran."
"I don't think he did," interposed her mother, "for
by all accounts he was too ill to go out when he first
came here, and, if she had ever been at the mill, the
family there would have spoken of it."
"I hope you are right," said Hilda, *'for, without
being supposed jealous, I think I may say it would have
been very hard if he had consented to see her and re-
fused to see me I Bo you think I ought to comply with
NONX 80 BUXD AS TfiOSX WHO WILL NOT 8EK. 461
her request, and let her know what he has written ? 1
fear a note or message will bring her here again."
" Let her come,'* replied her mother ; " for if we coald
rnnnage to make her meet Frank, her recognition of
htm would save a great deal of painfal acting."
" What a pity we did not think of this plan before I"
said Hilda. " It would have been so easy to have in-
daced her to go to Tyrol with us to-day."
" No, Hilda ! Let us first see him alone, and put our
BeIpossession to the proof without witnesses."
"It will be a hard trial," said Hilda, "and I can only
hope that circumstances will favor us."
An hour later they were on the ^oad to the village
and castle of Tyrol, mounted on horses such as guides
generally place at the service of strangers, quiet ani-
mals, whose only pace seems an eager walk that is
generally supposed to be warranted safe. Hilda did
not think it necessary to consider herself on horseback
at all : she placed the reins in the hand of her guide,
and, heedless or unconscious of the beautifVil scenery
around her, indulged in a long retrospect, beginning at
the early winter morning on which she had seen her
eousin Frank as he stamped his feet on the snow-covered
ground of the Chapel-island and laughingly shook the
water of tho lake from his dripping clothes, and ending
with the spectral figure of her husband standing beneath
the tree in the orchard ten days previously. It was a
retrospect of nine years ; but how short the time ap-
peared I A few important circumstances, chiefiy those
recorded in this volume, had made an ^indelible im-
pression on her mind, but all the rest was a mere con-
sciousness of having lived more or less contentedly at
Westenried, XJlm, and Innsbruck. The current of her
thoughts was undisturbed until she reached the tunnel
oondocting to the castle ; but it was not the deep bed of
3*
462 AT OMNI,
the moantMn-atreami nor the steep higb-Mnd-lHmk on
which the remains of the csstle stood^ that then attracted
her attention : it was the miller's horse, held bj a little
boj, who allowed him to nibble at pleasure the herbs
that grew thick and green up to the very threshold of
the castle.
As Hilda and her mother dismounted, they were
rather surprised to perceive a number of peasants
standing in groups about the entrance; several others
were in the building itself, and some followed themto
the room in which they thought it probable they should
find Frank. Nor were they disappointed ; for, on enter-
ing, they instantly perceived him close to one of the
windows, with his wounded leg stretched at full length
on a row of chairs, and completely engaged in explain-
ing to some sturdy-looking peasant riflemen the neces-
siiy of laying down thbir arms and resigning themselves
to a peace that was now inevitable. He was intimatiiig
his intention of going to see Hofer as soon as he could
venture on so long a ride, when his eyes fell on Hilda
and her mother; and it was astonishing the self-possee^
sion with which he continued to speak while carefully-
drawing the black bandage over the greater part of bi
ftce.
There was nothing in the room to tempt strangers to
visit it, excepting the magnificent view from the win*
dows, and, though Hilda hesitated, her mother instantly
advanced to the one of which Frank had obtained pos-
session, and, availing herself of the excuse that the
others were occupied, requested permission to look out
of it.
Frank instantly made an effort to move the chairs.
Pray, don't disturb yourself," she said. ' I elm pass
quite easily. Hilda, come here. The weather is so
dear that we can follow the windings of the Adige the
NONI SO BUND A8 T80SX WHO WILIi NOT SU. 468
whole length of the valley, and see distinctly the towers
of the castle of Eppan. How beautiful V
" Beautiful indeed !" murmured Frank, his eyes fixed
upon Hilda, as she stood beside her mother in a sort of
forced rigid composure that gave her unusually pale
features a statue-like expression. '
Her mother continued to speak, and was soon able to
turn towards Frank and half-smile at his exaggerated
disguise; but Hilda's stoVen glance had a different efPeet:
her limbs trembled, her eyes grew dim, a cold moisture
overspread her brow, and, after a few ineffectual efforts
to conceal her increasing weakness, she put her arm
within her mother's, and, leaning heavily upon it, whis-
pered, " Let us go : I cannot ^stay here any longer."
Frank, who had watched her increasing pallor with ^
great uneasiness, placed his hand on the back of the
nearest chair and raised himself suddenly on his feet.
He could not have chosen a better means to revive her,
for the movement made i,t evident that the pieces of
wood and leather straps which she had supposed to be
the substitute for a lost limb were in fact but the sup*
ports of a wounded leg, that seemed in no way curtailed
of its fair proportions. She did not trust herself to look
at him, but, with eyes bent on the ground, walked
slowly out of the room.
I cannot do it !" she exclaimed, vehemently, as they
sat under a tree near the castle. "All my former self-
possession in Frank's presence is gone, and in order to
keep my word to ]oris I must carefully avoid meeting
him again. Oh, why did she tell me ? Of what use is
my knowing that he is here, if I must continue under
such restraint V
"Very true," answered her mother;, "it was unlike
Doris betraying him in the first instance, and still more
unlike her not having the courage to brave his dis-
164 AT
pleasure and leave yoa at liberty to aet as you tUak
best on so momentons an occasion."
^I am sure she meant well/' began Hilda.
*^ Of that there can be no doubt/' said her mother :
^she was evidently tempted to make this injndicioas
disclosure by a strong desire to promote a reconciliation
between yoo. But there is no use in now talking of her
error in judgment, or his provoking eccentricity. liCt us
believe in her good intentions, and leave him to choose his
own time for putting aside his incognito: we can at
least, while apparently avoiding him, have the satisfao-
tion of watching his progressive recovery."
And Frank's recovery did, in fact, from that time
forward progress rapidly; he made almost daily excur*
sions, and, though Hilda resolutely refrained from ask-
ing in what direction he was likely to ride, the miller
or some member of his family regularly informed her of
his "plans for the day
I have jost heard of Frank's intention to ride to
Fragsburg," she observed, one morning, as she entered
her mother's room ; '^ and the miller proposed getting
horses for us in case we wished to go there also.''
" You refused, of course V
' Yes : I said the weather was too warm ; and then he
told me, very significantly, that hesuq[ected the colonel
would be disappointed."
What did he mean by that?"
He evidently imagines that Frank is tired of being
alone, and kindly wishes to procure him some acquaint*
ances. At all events, it seems be has asked the miller a
great many questions about us, and wondered why I
did not play the harp and sing as I used to do."
" And I/' said her mother, " I wonder what our friend
the miller answered ?"
"Very probably," suggested Hilda, "he told him I
N05B 80 BLIND A8 TB08B WHO WILL NOT 811. 466
wma inooDBolable for the loss of my sister; for be advised
me not to take on so about her, as a marriage was not
a misfortune in a family, but rather the contrarji when
it was agreeable to all parties, and the young man
iithfal for nine long years, as he had heard from Mrs.
Janet."
'^ It seems Janet was loquacious/' observed her mother.
** She always was, and always will be,'' answered Hilda ;
''and while she was here Frank obtained information
enough Itbout us without the trouble of questioning any
one."
''Then you do not think he is inclined to make an
advancer' said her mother. "You do not imagine he
wishes to meet us again ?"
" No/' replied Hilda ; " I think the Fragsburg pro-
posal was merely a sociable inspiration of 'our miller^
for 'his colonel.'"
" You may be right," observed her mother, thought-
fhUy; ''but if you could see Frank with more composure
than at Tyrol Castle, I think a sufficient time has inter*
vened to admit of another advance on our part being
made without its exciting a shadow of suspicion in his
mind."
"Then let us go I" cried Hilda, evidently delighted
at the proposal. " I shall be glad to see him again on
any terms."
Not long after, Frank, with very little assistance,
mounted the miller's horse and rode from the mill.
" How quickly he is recovering !" observed Hilda, who
^had been watching him through the foliage of a trellised
vine : " all the wooden supports and leather straps have
been taken from his leg, and he seems scarcely at all
lame now T'
" Well, my dear, did not Doris mention in her letter
that he had written a very good account of himself
4M AT OMM.
and hoped to throw aside his cnitch in a day or
twor
^'Perhaps/' said Hilda, 'he has already been some
tiine without it."
** Not at all improbable ; and if we walk down to the
mill while waiting for the horses, we shall be sure to
hear every thing about him that can interest us."
And so it proved. They were immediately informed
that the colonel haci received a letter, brought by a man
who was supposed to be a messenger from the Archduke
John, if not from the Emperor Franz himself, and after
reading this letter, and speaking to the man that brought
it, the colonel hbd become so impatient about his re-
covery that he bad first sent into Meran to consult his
doctor there, and afterwards despatched an express for
the famous surgeon at Botzen y both had been with him
the previous day, and, after a long consultation, had de-
clared that his leg was so nearly well again that he
might now go wherever be pleased, provided he rested
at night and did not walk too much for the next month
or six weeks. As soon as the surgeons left him, he had
told the miller that he intended in a day .or two to
undertake a longer excursion than he had yet attempted,
but, as he proposed setting off early in the morning,
there was nothing to prevent his returning at night,
although the days were, unfortunately, very short just
then.
'^Yery short indeed,'^ said Hilda; ''and therefore I
think the sooner we set out now the better.'^
MOW o Nsvxa I 4tt7
OHAPTBR XLIIL
HOW OB NSYXBI
Ths road to Fragsburg passes throagh the best land
about Meran: on each side of it there are fields of
wheat and com, belonging to the rich peasants who
reside on the mountain ; and, after wandering for some
weeks throagh endless vineyards, the change to less ro-
mantic scenery is more welcome than people generally
are willing to acknowledge.
The old fortress of Fragsburg is situated on an ele*
vated rocky projection commanding the country be*
neath; but, having reached the summit, one is surprised
to find it part of a highly^ultivated plain of consider-
able extent, beyond which the mountain rises again a
i^gg^ mass of wood and rocks, and among these there
is a waterfall that is not only an object of interest to
tourists, but the termination of every Fragsburg ex*
cursion undertaken by the inhabitants of Meran.
With the old castle itself its square tower and
marble-pillared veranda, its wainscoted rooms and won*
derfal stove, we have no concern; for at the entrance
to the dilapidated court Hilda saw the miller's hcwse,
and soon ascertained that Frank had gone to ihe
waterfall and intended to rest there for an hour of
two. Her mother urged her to follow him, proposing
herself to visit the family at the castle, with whom she
was slightly acquainted; and, after some hesitation,
Hilda consented, declaringi however, that she could not,
468 AT oim%.
and would not, mnke any attempt to induce Frank to
speak to her.
She knew the way well, and did not panse until she
reached the end of the fields and commenced a descent
to the ravine, into which the water fell in cascades of
various heights. Then she began to feel the difficulties
of her situation in full force, and to doubt her power
of keeping her promise to her sister as she ought. She
sat down on the trunk of a felled tree, hoping by a
short d^ay to fortify herself for a meeting that cer-
tainly had the most satisfactory appearance of chance
and could raise no suspicion in his mind; but just as
she clasped .her hands round her knees, and began to
conjecture what he was likely to do or think when he
saw her, she discovered that he was actually at no
great distance from her, standing on the edge of a small
plateau of grass, whence a view of the waterfall could
be obtained without much exertion.
How secure from her observation he must have
thought himself, as he leaned on his mountain-staff,
his hat on the ground, and the black bandage no longer
concealing his forehead I Hilda also perceived at a
glance that his hair had been cut and the greater part
of his wild beard removed: so that he now looked so
like himself that an attempt to ignore him would be
perfectly absurd. This was a dilemma for which she
was quite unprepared, and she started from her seat
with such impetuosity that some chips and stones
loosely attached to the bark of the tree rolled down-
wards, and instantly attracted Frank's attention.
When he looked up, she stood for a moment still as a
statue; then, as the thought flashed through her mind
that flight would betray consciousness, she sprang for-
ward, and, choosing a more precipitous path than the
one near which he stood, never once stopped until she
NOW OR neysb! 469
reached the bottom of the ravine, and found herself
close to the small pool formed by the waterfall before
it fonnd an oatlet through the rocks and became a
rivulet.
Breathless and iagitated, she leaned against the near-
est tree, and began to repent the course she had
taken. "What was the use of my coming here?" she
thought, looking around her; ''I cannot remain beside
this noisy waterfall for two hours, and must therefore
make up my mind to pass him again ^Perhaps, how-
ever, he will have tied on the black handkerchief, or
put on his hat, or he may turn away, or or have gone
away ^but no, I hope not, as I believe I could pass
him now with tolerable composure."
And, while so thinking, Hilda began a deliberate
ascent, pausing occasionally as if to admire the view,
but in fact to reconnoiter the ground around her and,
if possible, see Frank without being seen by him. She
forgot the advantage of his position above her, and was
for some time unconscious that she was watched; but
even when aware of it she continued her ascent, not
even venturing on the slightest deviation from the beaten
path that she knew would bring her quite close to him.
Great, however, was the relief afforded by a pro-
truding rock, behind which she could hide herself for
a short time; but no sooner did she feel the certainty
of being unobserved than her courage foiled, and,
utterly disheartened, she pressed her burning forehead
against the cold stone, raised her clasped hands above
her head, and wept with the noiseless agony of forcibly
restrained grief; her whole frame shook with sobs
scarcely louder than sighs, and her sorrow was so ab-
sorbing that she was quite unconscious of the sound
of approaching footsteps, though they were accom-
panied by the load striking of a staff on the ground.
40
470 AT ODDS.
Her name even was pronounced twice by Frank before
she tamed round and saw him standing almost beside her.
Pale as death, and scarcely less agitated than her-
self, he faltered, ^* Doris has written to me, Hilda, and
I now know that farther concealment would be folly."
^'It would be cruel, Frank," she answered, smiling
through her tears, when, forgetfol of all his resolutions,
he embraced her passionately. "It would be cruel; and
indeed I did not deserve that you should doubt my
affection so ungenerously V
Whatever doubts he may still have entertained were,
it may be conjectured, removed in a very satis&ctory
manner: it is rather to be feared th^t Hilda's impul-
sive nature induced her to make a fuller confession of
her love, and greater profession of penitence, than was
necessary. What actually was said no one ever ascer-
tained; but Frank never afterwards seemed in the
least to distrust any demonstration of affection on
her part, or for a moment to attribute it to com-
passion; and perhaps the greatest, and at the same
time first, effort on his part to prove this was,
when the short afternoon began to draw to a close,
he accepted her arm and leaned upon it while ascending
the steep path that took them out of the ravine.
The ride back to Meran and the miller's house was
very pleasant, ^the evening spent together in perfectly
unreserved conversation, singularly cheerful. Frank
lingered on from hour to hour, until atJength his aunt,
after having repeatedly fallen asleep, stood up and
quietly wished him good-night.
" I understand the hint," he said, laughing ; ' but it is
very hard to be dismissed in this way when I know I
shall not see you all day to-morrow."
Why not ?" asked Hilda.
^ Because I must go to the Valley of Passeyer to
NOW OB neyebI 471
speak to Andrew Ho&r: be is surrounded by people
trying to induce bim to bead anotber insurrection^ and
I bope to induce bim to lay down bis arms and secure
bis and tbeir personal safety wbile it is yet time. You
see, tbis is an affair tbat will admit of no procrastination,
and I intend to be on tbe road to tbe ' Sands' at eigbt
o'clock to-morrow morning. Hilda/' be added, witb
difficulty suppressing a smile, ^'you once said you would
visit Hofer, tbat you wished to see tbe little inn on
tbe Sands ''
'* Notbing I sbould like better/' sbe answered, quickly;
* and, if you will take me witb you to-morrow, I promise
to be ready at any bour you please/'
" You bad better set off early," interposed ber motber,
"or else you will not be able to return before it is
dark."
" Ob, we sball bave plenty of time," cried Frank, gayly.
" It will be altogetber a deligbtful excursion; and I don't
so mucb mind going to tbe mill, now tbat I know I may
return to you so soon again. Nevertbeless, I wisb it
were morning."
* * * * ^
A few bours later, tbey were onCe more assembled,
and, after a basty breakfast, descended to tbe road.
' 6oodrbye, dear motber," said Hilda, springing on ber
horse; '^we sball come back early,. tbat you may not
bave time to be uneasy about us; and wbile you are
alpne to-day you can write a long, long letter to Doris,
and tell ber ''
" Tell ber/' interposed Frank, " tbat ber last expedient
for tbe promotion of our happiness has been completely
successful, and tbat, instead of reproaching, I shall thank
her for it when we meet."
The horses moved slowly on. Hilda looked back,
smiling brightly, and her mother he^d ber exclaim.
47S AT ODDB.
' What a ohanning ride we shall have I I never felt so
happy in all my life/'
'0r I either/' answered Frank; and, though imme-
diately afterwards they were oat of sight, the sound of
their mirthful voices as they slowly descended the hill
on the paved road through the vineyards was still heard
by the profoundly inqaisitive and much amazed inhabit-
ants of the mill.
As evening approached^ a peasant from the Yalley of
Passeyer was seen walking up to the miller's house; he
was the bearer of a note from Hilda containing the fol-
lowing lines :
** Dear Mother : ^Frank says that returning to Meran
to-night would fatigue him dreadfully: so, of course, we
must not think of attempting it; but you need not be
uneasy, as the ride here appears not to have been in the
least too long for him. I am sorry to say that all his
efforts to persuade Hofer to accept the offered amnesty,
and to refuse to command the projected continuation of
the insurrection, have been fruitless. He first answered
evasively, until the Archduke's name was used and
Frank urged more strongly, when he at length exclaimed,
I would comply with your request if it were in my
power; but if I moved one step from my house with
such intentions my own people would shoot me on the
spot!'"*
The next day brought another letter from ffilda, con-
taining a communication for which her mother seemed
wonderfully well prepared. She smiled' as she read:
'^ We have eloped, dear mother, and when this reaches
A. ' '
* Hofer'a own words.
NOW OR nsyerI 473
yoa we shall be riding oyer the Janfen on oar waj to
Innsbrack. . There we shall remain a few days, in the
hope that 70a will send us some clothes, so that we may
be able to go on to TJlm and Westenried. I wish yoa
could have heard dear old Hofer yesterday evening
admonishing us to love one another and live in peace.
Frank knows so well his great predilection for the
adjustment of conjugal quarrels, that he listened with
the most exemplary patience, and delighted Hofer by
observing that inasmuch as Napoleon at Ulm had been
indirectly the cause of our separation, so had Andrew
Hofer at Innsbruck promoted our reconciliation. He
ended with the assurance that we were now the happiest
and most attached couple in the world; and you shall
have proof that this assertion is true, dear mother, when
we return to you a few weeks hence with Doris and
Emmeran; for Frank's perfectly satis&ctory explanations
on every subject have made it impossible for us ever
again to be at odds."