The Count of Nideck

hance? Nonsense! What is chance, anyway, save that for which we fail

rridor. The portrait of Elfreda, that pure, artless face, blended in my fancy with that of the

e, meanwhile, if breakfast is ready,

broad figure of Becker, the forester, sprawled out leisurel

ld continue. Seeing no reason for remaining longer, I directed Becker to let me know at once

s of her father. Poor woman! It has been a hard strain upon her, for she insists

at I saw no way in which I could properly suggest to the Cou

g-room. Sperver anno

She was dressed in a gown of gray stuff, simply fashioned, with a bodice of white velvet work

the noble forehead; there are the long lashes, the so

ming vividness, and I felt that, far from entering upon her world but

one hand on the chair-back. "It seems that your presence here has already worked a cha

that it is so, mademoiselle. We must ende

t was Providence that brought you here?" and she in

ith knitting-work which momentarily grew as she rocked back and forth in time to the ticking of the tall clock, I took the seat which Odile designated, e

as made during the repast, Odile preferring a

u to us with much pride and affection. Your relationsh

his pulling me out of a swamp into which I got myself, thr

seemed to be waiting for

fely at home again. The sabre, too, had grown very heavy, and everything about the undertaking having fallen far short of my anticipation, I turned around and began to retrace my steps. Having only such knowledge of direction as a boy of eight would be likely to have, I soon lost my way, and in attempting to cross the swamp of the Losser by picking my path along the tufts of grass above its surface, I lost my footing and slipped into the mud. F

dent, and the Countess joined me

our ol

s, I was left entirely without resources, save such as I could create for myself, and it became ne

ch matters with jealous care; but I felt, I know not why, that her expression of interest was more a wish to learn the real fac

ving now in

what fortune may have in store for me. I feel that I never should be contented anywhere else; and I am bet

t each year, I remember that, in spite of all its gaieties and pleasures, so well calculated to charm young minds,

me a singular desire to learn more of it. The young Countess conducted the affairs of the table with captivating grace, and the ready Offenloch

h from these agreeable

f the hunt, I suppose? for the Cou

nted. Somehow the wild boar claims less of my sympathy, for it is

it was reserved for me

the years which I might have spent so were passed in foreig

, whose admiration for my person expressed the evening before seemed in no way to have decrease

r, and its old stones seem so full of romance;" and my eyes wandered to the two suits of armor at the further end o

feel that I could never be happy anywhere e

acter and person, had taken, it seemed almost wantonly and in a spirit of perversity; and yet I was satisfied that no such ex

plant the magic kiss, and she, like others of her sisters, w

ke, which I felt would become immediately inaugurated, were the Count's recovery to become an established fact. Then my thoughts reverted once more to my patient, and, speculating for the

e of the Countess, who inclined her head with a friendly smile.

he wishes to see you," h

o worse?

ot; he seems

e last hour passed in the dining-room, I