Fickle Fortune

e female descendants had lopped off one good member after another, so that at the time of which this story treats there were, besides the

by his parents as the presumptive heir to the family lands. The then head of the family, Edmund's father, was childless, and already well advanced in years when he became a widower; his only brother, a man considerably younger than himself, who held a commission in the army, might therefore legitimately count on the prospective inheritance. It was esteemed a

ght certainly be called; but it was ill-qualified to satisfy the needs of a youthful heart, especially as, so it was whispered, this suit had interfered with, and roughly broken asunder, the bonds of a previous attachment. Whether absolute constraint, or persuasion only, had been used on the part of the relations, no one knew; however prompted, the young lady gav

ds him no feelings of special friendship. The affectionate relations formerly existing between the brothers gave place to a coldness and estrangement which lasted until the death

f the two boys to Baron Heideck, his wife's brother, and the latter justified the confidence placed i

and independence of action. She it was who, in reality, had control

n his cousin's company. He had now returned to make himself acquainted with the management of his estates, which at hi

ty which once had been dazzling. Her appearance, albeit majestic, was still so youthful, that it was difficult to imagine her the mother of this son of two-and-twenty, more especially as there was no single trait of resemblance between them. Edmund, with his dark hair and eyes, his sparkling gaiety and

'follies innumerable,' but he could not have found it hard to obtain absolution, for his mothe

ct unconstraint you have enjoyed abroad, the maternal rein has grown s

. Then relapsing immediately into his former lighthearted, saucy vein, he added: 'I told Oswald

ess's fac

dier of the two, he should have remained at your side; instead of which he left you to yourself, going only where he was absolutely o

I did not listen to him. But before we say anything more, mother, le

he alterations I have had made in your rooms.

, bu

him quickly. 'Now that you are about to take possession of your own house, it would

xceptional cases,' objected Edmund. 'There are rooms enough and to spare in the main building. Osw

ervants.' said the Countess, in a very decided tone. 'If you wish to revoke

ll that I never interfere with your proceedings. But this might hav

l have taken all necessary steps to introdu

looke

ther plans for the future,'

time. Once, when he rebelled against entering the army, I yielded, thanks to your persuasion and advocac

at, as an officer and the representative of an old and noble name, he would not b

would amply ha

ount accept. He possesses, as

for my husband's formally expressed desire that this nephew should share your education and opportunities, I would never have left you so exclusively to his comp

aughed o

ay be noted from his occasional remarks on men and things which strike no one else as peculiar. Here, at Etter

lying on the table, and seemed to b

lity for him. You, with your frank, warm, open nature, and Oswald

not the most amiable person in the world, that I must admit; towards me he decidedly is not amiabl

e from whom they must accept benefits. He has never forgiven me the fact that my marriage destroyed his own and his f

e matters worse; for it surely aroused the maternal jealousy, always prompt to igni

ght to a natural end, the subject of it

ll and of daily inquiries after her health was rigorously imposed upon him. On the present occasion the tour so recently concluded furnished food for discourse. Edmund related some of their adventures; Oswald

he Countess, at length. 'Your bronzed complexion especiall

'In the matter of complexion I have unfortunately

untess

has done for you. You certainly do not resemb

Hardly,' rem

he Countess, rather sharply. 'You and Edm

face, and it really is strange, when you come to think of it, for in our race the family traits have usually been especially marked. Look at Oswald, for instance. He is an Ettersberg from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot. He is in every feature an exact cop

d, fixed on his cousin's face wi

e replied. 'You have not a

sharp rebuke. 'It frequently happens that a family likeness, absent in youth, grows st

t laughed and

thoughtlessness and high spirits, for which I am always being lectured, could come of a race so desperately wise and vi

ed the Counte

plied to the young man's last assertion, or

dmund, rather abashed. 'You see, mother, I have none of th

omething else, I fancy

r face plainly betokened the dislike she had avowe

ions as rules. Oswald, I wish you would look through these papers. You have some legal knowledge. Our solicitor seems to consider t

were lying on the table, across to her

he lawsuit against Counci

led yet?' asked Edmund. 'Why, the suit w

led rather

ay go on for years. If you will allow me, aunt, I will take these papers with me t

gotten pretty nearly all about the business. This Rüstow married a daughter of Uncle Fran

mésalliance, broke with him and with the entire family. It was natural, under such circumstances, that he should disinherit her absolutel

on Edmund's brow as he l

possession of Dornau? I seem to be intruding on the rights of others, who, in spite of wills and family

ich he attacked the will and proceeded against you, the acknowledged heir, was downright insulting, and would make any show of concession on our part appear as unpardonable weakness.

ected Edmund. 'And her husband would n

es a claim on beha

men looked up

r? So he has

rl of about eigh

dy and I are the h

this sudden intere

ng struck her as being so indescribably comic--why she refused to give her name. The allusion to a certain connecti

of all this,' said the Countess, who seemed to think such

as you may imagine, was gallant enough for both'--and so the young Count set about relating the adventure of the preceding day, going into all the details with much sparkling humour, and exulting in the fact of having so soon discovere

ence. In your place I should have felt it to be a painful one. It is n

eighteen--certainly not with this one, though she should lay claim to Et

t stake they must recede into the background. This affair is of a serious nature. Our opponents have imported into it a degree of bitterness, have acted with a churlish insol

ve no doubt in her son's mind as to the dis

d still docile to the maternal sceptre. He ventured no word of reply to her sharp remonstr

wald, as the door closed. 'Why did you

ere appears to be a deadly feud between this Rüstow and our fami

ckly from the papers

of paying the Counci

a cause which, in reality, is perfectly indifferent to me? On the contrary, I shall seize the opportunity of introducing m

oor,' said Oswald drily. 'He is known al

r, and I suppose even this bear will have some human points about him. What makes you look so solemn, Osw

spoke, and going up to the window. The rapid movement and something

. 'Do not put forward your plans for the future just at present. We are not just now in a favourable humour to receive them. I wanted to take the lead,

must of necessity be broached shortly between my

stily. 'I have other things to think of just now, and no desire to be

Oswald, in so sharp and uncourteous a ton

rue, to such rudeness on your part, but really I hardly see why I

in the social scale, and you feel yourself called

te bitterness of spirit that Edmu

ow I cannot put myself in open opposition to my mother, even when my views differ decidedly from hers. But in this case she will give way, for if your own rooms

ed from Oswald's face, and h

where I spend the few months of my sojourn here. The rooms in the tower are very quiet, and

king to estrange yourself from us. Oswald, I must say, if things are not always pleasant between my mother and you, a great share of the blame rests

is demanded of me, and where the whole f

distant date,' said Edmund, evidently ill-pleased at the pros

N

like.

it when Oswald came quickly forth from the window-

mun

he other interroga

in the side-wing, but---- I

ng Coun

with an impulse of frank, hearty affection, he threw his arm round his cousin's shoulder. 'Is it true that you cherish a hatred t

s features for something hidden from him. This time, however, the keen scrutiny soon gave place to an expression of wa

dmund,' was the st

n you that I shall summon up all my talent--and you know how justly it is esteemed--to produce an effect at Brunneck. This I shall

his cousin's arm, and drew