But that whisper had more music to his ear than all the harps of heaven.

66

converse sweet

They paced the garden in until nightfall; and it was settled, ere they parted, that the young knight should apply to. her father in due form for her hand.

66

He will not, she said, "gainsay you; for never heard I my dear sire speak better of man® than he does of thee. Among all his friends, you are the favourite. Now, farewell. Remember

"Ere thy remembrance dulls in my mind, life shall be extinct," exclaimed the passionate youth. "Farewell.

They parted as lovers should do: it need not be said how, for every one knows it. She retired to her chamber to think of her wooer; and he spurred his willing steed homewards, lost in a transport, of intoxicating delight. Neither slept much that night.; but their waking was far more pleasant than sleep. Oh, that the Elysium of youth, and love, and hope, could always continue!

Pursuant to the prescriptive usage of the class of nobles in Germany at this period, the nearest relative of a suitor, or, failing that, the dearest friend, was customarily despatched as a mediator to those who stood in the same relation to the fair object of the suit, to pray for her band, and make all necessary arrangements for the nuptials. Accordingly, Sir Kuno sought out his uncle, the rich old Baron Kurt, to perform that office for him. Kurt was his next of kin, the brother of his father; and he was the heir of all the extensive possessions enjoyed by the old

man. But nature had cast the mind of the uncle and nephew in different moulds; there was not a particle of identity between them. Kurt was as vicious as the young Kuno was virtuous; the one was as malignant as the other was generous and forgiving; in short, the uncle hated the nephew with an intensity felt only by the very bad. He hated him, because the stainless life he led was a reproach on the profligacy of his own; he hated him, because his tastes were all of a contrary character from those low and degraded ones indulged in by himself; and he hated him, more than all, for some unwarrantable primary cause, by reason that he was the sole heir to his property. It need scarcely be said, that the unsuspecting youth was quite unconscious of all this; or otherwise he would have searched the world over sooner than make such an unnatural monster his emmissary in a matter of this transcendantly delicate nature. But the wicked old man had cunning enough to conceal the true state of his heart from his nephew; and the guilelessuess of the youth assisted the delusion.

Kurt at once undertook the task of waiting on the Lord of Rheinstein, and asking the hand of his fair daughter for his nephew. He undertook it, because he had an indefinite presentiment that it would afford him an opportunity of doing the young knight an ill-turn in some manner or other; and because he had had an old feud with the father of the intended bride, which, as it was anything but of fortunate result for himself, he was much pleased with the means thus given him of appeasing. In due time he visited Rheinstein,

be

and was received with all the stately ceremony of the time. His errand was soon told; and the beautiful Gerda then introduced to him: but no sooner had the hoary wretch cast his eyes on her, than he felt in his evil breast the glow of an all-consuming desire. He was not a moment in taking his resolution. That night he proposed for ber himself; waiving all the wonted formalities. "I have," said he to her sire, to whom, it remembered, the proposition was made alone; "I have the largest possessions of any noble in the land. No man of my rank, far and wide, can count so many castles, courts, forests, fields, herds, and vassals, as I; and I have, besides, a large sum in gold -an untold treasure. All these I offer to your daughter. Say, shall she be mine? It is true, my nephew loves her; but what of that? He hath nought to offer her but poverty; his castle is all that he can command in the world. Choose between us-mediocrity on the one hand, and unbounted riches and power on the other. I wait your decision."

Ambition, which had been the curse of the lords of Rheinstein from time immemorial, and avarice, which was equally fatal to them otherwise, did not cause long hesitation on the part of the fair victim's father. He paused a moment only; then striking the open palm of Kurt's hand, he exclaimed:

"You say right. She is thine. Such an alliance is worth everything to me. My daughter knows no will but mine. You shall have her consent to-morrow."

With these words they parted; the

one, to

triumph in his successful scheme of villany; the other, to prepare the lovely Gerda for her fate.

Up to this point of time, the fair maiden had concealed her love from all save its object; but she did so only because it seemed sweeter to indulge in secret her anticipation of future happiness with her beloved. Any opposition on the

part of her sire never entered into her mind for a single moment. What, then, was her horror, when he sought her hower, and bade her prepare for the bridal with Kurt! She hesitated-he grew impatient for her answer; she was mute - he stormed like a wild animal. She flung herself at his feet at last, and confessed her love for the noble Kuno. His rage knew no bounds. She told him all-how she had long loved the youth, and how her love was returned how she had no higher wish on earth than to be his wife - how his wishes and hers were similar-how, in short she had, only a few days before, received his troth-and how she had then plighted her to him for ever.

"My father," she exclaimed, as she embraced his knees, and bathed his feet with tears; "my father, urge me not to gainsay my honourable duty. I value not the possessions of him whom you would make my husband. Better bread and salt with the noble Kuno, than an imperial throne with that bad old man his uncle, whom I have always learned from you to fear and to distrust."

"

"I give you until to-morrow cried the incensed lord of Rheinstein. "Make up your mind by that time. Consent, and you are still my dearest child-the hope of my old age-the beloved of my heart-the prop of my infirmities;

refuse, and I curse you with a father's curse. You shall be an outcast for ever from my home and heart; and you shall take the veil within three months, in the most rigid nunnery in Germany."

In vain did the despairing maiden adjure him, by everything high and holy, by every recollection tender and dear to his heart, to forego his resolution;-be was inflexible. Nay, even the name of her departed mother, whom he had once loved so fondly, now failed in its wonted effect upon his excited passions.

He went forth from her chamber; and the only words he would utter were.

"To-morrow-to-morrow

to-morrow!"

It was a fearful trial for one so young and inexperienced as the lovely Gerda; but, as Sterne beautifully observes, "the Lord tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. " She left her chamber and descended to the garden. It was the evening hour: the setting sun flung a mass of brilliant light upon the silent river, making it look like a running stream of molten gold; the sky in the west was of the richest vermilion, bordered with azure of every tint. It was a glorious scene to see; yet Gerda's heart rejoiced not at it. The birds carolled in the boughs, their hymn of thanksgiving to the great Creator; but their praiseful song fell unheeded on her ear, She saw and heard nothing;-the tumult of her soul absorbed her every sense; her all was at stake. She entered the woodbine bower, the place where she had plighted her affection to the youth; and there her heart seemed strengthened. She prayed to God for aid in the perilous