The Dove in the Eagle's Nest

g snowed-up all the winter with such a

e the homage had been paid. Probably the Schlangenwald Count knew how tough a morsel the castle was like to prove, and Wildschloss was serving at a distance, for nothing was heard of either during the short interval while the roads were still open. During this time an attempt had been made through Father Norbert to ascertain what had become of the corpses of the two Barons and their followers, and it had appeared that the Count had carried them all off from the inn, no doubt to adorn his castle with their limbs, or to present them to the Emperor in evidence of hi

irely cut off from every creature save the inmates of the castle, where, as far as the old lady was concerned, she o

aliant Tailorling who boasted of having killed seven flies at a blow, and had been carried on chiefly because of the contradiction between such a title and his huge brawny strength and fierce courage. Poor Eberhard, with his undaunted bravery and free reckless good-nature, a ruffian far more by education than by nature, had been much loved by his followers. His widow would have reaped the benefit of that affection even if her exceeding sweetness had not gained it on her own account; and this giant was completely gained over to her, when, amid all h

aped up objections; but so urgent was Christina for confession and for mass, that the old woman had not the heart to stop her by a warning to the elder Baroness, and took the alternative of accompanying her. It was a glorious sparkling Easter Day, lovely blue sky above, herbage and flowers glistening below, snow dazzling in the hollows, peasants assembling in holiday gar

, and, when the service was not in progress, voices were not even lowered, and, after many attempts on the part of the Schneiderlein to attract the attention of his mistress, his voice immediately succeeded the Ite m

bert saw her extreme terror, and, with the thought that he might comfort and support her, perhaps mediate between the contending parties, plead that it was holy-tide, and proclaim the peace of the church, or at the worst protect the lady herself, he offered his company; but, though she thanked him, it was as if she scarcely understood his kindness, and a shudder passed ove

not even daring to ask from what quarter came the alarm, Christina made her way out of the turmoil to that chamber of her own, the scene of so much fear and sorrow, and yet of some share of peace and happiness. But from the window, near the fast subsiding waters of the

ed and armed her garrison, perfectly resolved against any submission, and confident in the strength of her castle; nay, not without a hope of r

truggling through the ford, and preparing to ascend the mountain. Attacks had sometimes been disconcerted by posting men in the most dangerous passes; but, in

five. The banner borne at their head was an azure one, with a white eagle, and their leader could be observed looking with amazement at

horn, and, before the echoes had died away among the hil

ered by stress of weather from coming to take possession of my inheritance. Admit me

nks the Freiherr von Adlerstein Wildschloss; but she holds the castle as

laimed the Wildschloss; "th

ard hath left us twin heirs, our youn

ternly spoke the knight. "Eberhar

ger, was wedded to him at the last Friedmund Wake, by the special

r son's into a marriage. And he hardly did her injustice, for she had never made any inquiry beyond the castle into the validity of Christina's espousals, nor sought after the friar who had performed the ceremony. She consented to an interview with the claimant of the in

dowed with Slavonic grace and courtesy, and he had likewise been employed in neg

mourning family, but I am much amazed at the tidings

confound you," compose

requiring full proofs. I would be glad to learn w

r of his esquire, Hugh Sorel, o

ady cousin, thou wouldst not stain the shield of Adlerstein wi

rangled the girl with mine own hands! But I learnt it only by his dying confession; and, h

place-witnesses?" i

nd Chapel," replied the Baroness. "Come hither, Schne

rds; but as to the point of who had performed the cer

a daughter of the dissolute lanzknecht Sorel would soon, by dexterous questioning, be made to expose

M?tz, and then replied that Sir Kasimir should be allowed to satisfy himself, but that she could admit no one else into the castle; h

civilized world, her chamber would have been hung with black cloth, black velvet would have enveloped her up to the eyes, and the blackest of cradles would have stood ready for her fatherless babe; two steps, in honour of her baronial rank, would have led to her bed, and a beaufet with the due baro

inging to her many a memory of him who should have been there, and wh

saw a delicate, lily-like face, white as ivory, and the soft, sweet brown eyes under their drooping lashes, so full

little swaddled babes, whose red faces and bald heads alone were allowed to appear above their mummy-like wrappings; and he could only make an obeisa

that you, noble sir, would learn who wedded me to my dear and blessed lord, Sir Eberhard. It was Friar Peter of the Franciscan brotherhood of Offingen, an agent for selling indulgences. Two of his lay brethren were present. My dear lord

Sir Kasimir; "forgive me for hav

us all;" and her soft eyes had a gleam of exultation, as she looked at the tw

and only wish to serve you and my little cousins. Which of them is the head of our family?" he added, looking at the two absolutely undistinguishable little chrysalises, so exactly alike that Christina herself wa

n this babe as the true Freiherr von Adlerstein, and far be it from me to trouble his heritage. Rather point out the way in which I may serve you a

. "The right line of Adlerstein can take care of itself without greedy guardians appointed by

as good as the Emperor, and ready to blast her daughter-in-law with her

admiration towards their mother, as he perceived more of the grandmother's haughty repulsiveness and wan

ert, who had already been making ready for the baptism, was sent for from the hall. Kunigunde, meantime, moved about restlessly, went half-way down the stairs, an

an the lady grandmother thinks to remember your offer of protection to my poor orphan

hall hear the state of things; and, while no violence is offered to travellers," he added, lowering h

t, oh! sir, if the Emperor and Diet will be patient and forbearing with this desolate house, my babes, if they live, shall strive to requite their

u," said the knight. "Ask, and

imable service you could render me-to let my uncle, Master Gottfried, the

r repeated

d aunt, till my father bore me away to attend on the young lady here. It is eig

; "I know the name. Carved not Master

uteous greetings, and tell them she loves them with all her heart, and prays them to forgive her, and to pray for her and her little ones! And," she added, "my uncle may not

oking uneasy and dismayed, and, as she bent over her mistress, she whispered, "Lady, the Schneiderlein sends you word that M?tz ha

sten to do her bidding; but whether it had been executed, there was no knowing, for almost immediately the Freiherrinn and Father Norbert entered, and Ursel returned with them. Nay, the message given, who could tell if Heinz would be able to act upon it? In the ordinary condition of the castle, he was indeed its most efficient inmate; M?tz did not approach him in strength, Hans was a cripple, Hatto would be on the right side; but Jobst the Kohler, and the other serfs who had been called in for the defence, were more likely to hold with the elder than the younger lady. And Frau Kunigunde herself, k

ink of the holy sacrament for the horror of knowing that the one sponsor was already exulting in the speedy destruction of the other; an

name she had longed after from the moment she had known that two sons had been her Easter gift, "Gottfried," after her beloved uncle. But Kunigunde caught the sound, and exclaimed, "No son of Adlerstein shall bear abase craftsman's name. Call him R?cher (the av

wedding-day, the sound of the word imported peace, and the good Barons Ebbo and Friedel had ever been linked together lovingly by popular memory. And so the second little Baron received the name

rose on either cheek. "I beg of you to take my two babes down-yes, both, both, in

most with passion, "Take them, take them, you know not how much depends on it." Ursel, with unusual readiness of wit, signed and whispered that the young mother must be humoured, for fear of consequences; till the knight, in a

r who had doomed her new-born babes for a stranger's sake. She could not even pray; she would have shrieked to have them brought back, but her voice was dead within her, her tongue clave to the roof of her mouth, ringings in her ears hindered her even from listening to the descending steps. She