The Dove in the Eagle's Nest

view, above and below, one expanse of white, only broken by the peaks of rock which were too steep to sustain the snow. The waterfall lengthened its icicles dai

nt out bear or wolf-hunting, or the younger took his crossbow and hound to provide the wild-fowl, which, under Christina's skilful ha

ughtsmen, and made a board by ruling squares on the end of a settle, and painting the alternate ones with a compound of oil and charcoal. Even the old Baron was delighted with this contrivance, and the pleasure it gave his daughter. He remembered playing at draughts in that portion of his youth which had been a shade more polished, and he felt as

d had hitherto presented was beginning to be filled up. Christina had brought her own books-a library of extraordinary extent for a maiden of the fifteenth century, but which she owed to her uncle's connexion with the arts of wood-cutting and printing. A Vulgate from Dr. Faustus's own press, a mass book and breviary, Thomas à Kempis's Imitation and the Nuremburg Chron

e, and tone had become so completely the same as those of Regina Grundt's little sister who had pined and died. She knew she could not cure, but she could, she felt she could, comfort, cheer, and soften, and she no longer repined at her enforced sojourn at Adlerstein. She heartily loved her charge, and could not bear to think how desolate Ermentrude would be without her. And now the poor girl had become responsiv

the advantage it would be to his daughter, if he could persuade himself to make the submission to the Kaiser which the late impro

been proud to match with a daughter of Adlerstein, be she what she might. As to submission to the Kaiser, that was mere folly and weakness-kaisers, ki

had been discussed at Regensburg was far more formidable than anything that had ever previously threatened Schloss Adlerstein, and that if the Graf von Schlangenwald joined in the coalition, t

irs was awakening in him a sense of the poorness and narrowness of his present life. Ermentrude never spared him what interested her; and, partly from her lips, partly through her appeals to her atte

with her explanations and translations, opened his mind to aspirations for intercourse with his fellows, for an honourable name, and for esteem in its degree such as was paid to Sir Parzival, to Karl the Great, or to Rodolf of Hapsburgh, once a mountain lord like himself. Nay, as Erme

talking to her and to Christina. All Christina's fear of him was gone. As long as there was no liquor in the house, and he was his true self, she felt him to be a kind friend, bound to her by strong sympathy in the love and care for his sister

na looked with strange admiration upon the expression that had dawned upon the features once so vacant and dull, and listened with the more depth of reverence to the sweet wor

n army

had ret

d pink hepaticas-or, as Christina called them, liver-krauts-had pushed up their starry heads, and had even been gathered by Sir Eberhard, and laid on his sister's pillow. The dark peaks of rock came out all glistening

s, savagery, and captivity, and she watched the dwindling stripes with satisfaction, and hailed the fall of the petty

elting away with it; and indeed it was on the very day that a succession of drifting showers had left the sheet alone, and separated it from the masses of white abov

y passing his word to her that, if-he would not say when-the time drew near, he would bring her one of the priests who had only

dwindled to a mere wreath-the ford looked blue in the sunshine-the cascade tinkled merrily down its rock-mountain primroses peeped out, when, as Father Norbert came forth from saying his ill-attended Pentecostal mass,

" began the as

is the young Freiherr.-Oh have mercy on him, graci

ng his voice with difficulty; "I would but ha

orbert. "Show me fit cause, and what sho

le sister lies at the point of death, and I have sworn to her that a pr

r knight," was the ready response. "A

anchorite followed him, whispering-"Good father, escape! There will be full tim

y should I deny my office t

en of blood! It is a snare to make the convent ransom thee, if not worse.

ert; "but wherefore should the

ted Eberhard, from his sta

is hand with an offer to "carry his gear for him;" and, when the monk refused, with an inward shudder at entrusting a

ges of Eberhard's shortest and most perpendicular cut without a moment's hesitation, and with agility worthy of a chamois. The young baron turned for a

de of the mountain was traced a gigantic shadowy outline of a

on towards the postern gate, followed by Brother Norbert, a good deal reassured both as to the genuineness of the young Baron's message and t

rned towards his daughter, as one who must needs be present, but with his face buried in his hands, unable to endure the spectacle. Nearer was the tall form of his wife, st

ed on him from the soft, dark eyes of the little white-checked maiden who sat on the bed, holding the sufferer in her arms. Still les

e a rigid curtsey, and with a grim look of sorrow coming over her features, laid her hand over the old Baron's shoulder.

owards his child. Ermentrude held

ated kisses, and laid her down on her pillows, then rushed to the door, and the passionate sobs of the strong man's uncontrolled nature might be heard upon the stair. The parting with the others was not necessarily so complete, as they were not, like him, under censure of the Church; but Kunigunde leant down to kiss her; and, in return to

st, and said, imploringly, "Not far, not far! Oh! let them," point

sping confession. Gravely and sadly both stood there. Christina looked up the hillside for the snow-wreath. The May sunshine had dissolved it; the green pass lay sparkling without a vestige of its white coating. Her eyes full of tears, she pointed the spot out to Eberhard. He understood; but,

stoop to greet her," murmured Christina, with s

ssion had been heard, and he sought the aid of Chr

t done a great and blessed work, su

ness, while Christina made her responses and took her part with full intelligence and deep fervour, sorrowing indeed for the companion who had become so dear to her, but deeply thankful for the spiritual consolation that had come at last. Ermentrude lay calm, and,

rhard, Christina, Ursel, and the old Baroness, who had returned again, watching the last flutterings of the b

ture in the midst for Christina to lift her in her arms-a sign to bend down and kiss her brow-