-and, who being your ladyship's maitre d'hotel, ought to have more discretion, must needs speak a little word to his lady at this hour! And for your ladyship to look at him at such a time of night is sure to give you bad dreams; for what ails. the fellow I know not, but he stares, and looks so wild and pale-I declare he is fitter for any thing than a bridal procession."

"Where is Conrade ?"

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Pacing the gallery, my lady."

The Baroness had observed that this faithful domestic had as much as possible avoided her presence since her engagement to Wolfsteïn was become public, and could but too well divine the matter of his discontent. It was therefore with great reluctance she prepared for the interview.

"Well, Conrade," said she, "what is your business ?"

My lady," he replied, weeping bitterly, "I am arrived at an hour such as I

hoped never to have seen!-I have dreamed these three nights of my dear master, rest his precious soul!-I have seen him many a time look sad enough when he was alive, but never as he looked yesternight he pointed to some object behind me, and shook his head;-I turned to see what it was, and there stood the hag of the wood of Mornau, who screamed with a loud and horrible laugh," The wolf has secured the lamb!" I waked in cold perspiration; the echo of the words, and the laugh, were still ringing in my ears."

"Conrade, you presume too much on the favour in which I have ever held you since you accompanied my dear brother' from the army.-Your conduct is harassing and disrespectful; nevertheless, for the sake of the past, I overlook it thus far."

"For the sake of the past, lady-for the sake of the past, I must bid you farewell! -I cannot serve him whom my master hated.-Oh! how I have seen that poor

wan cheek flush at his very name!-and this was the very thing he dreaded!Alas! my lady, I am come to tell you that Conrade will pray for you so long as he has breath. I was born in your castle, and I love the very stones of it, and every bit of moss that cleaves to the old walls, but I shall see it no more."

"Conrade," said the Baroness, in great agitation," you would not leave me! Whither would you go?"

"To seek after him whom I love, because my master loved him, the unhappy, circumvented Count Vallenstein."

"Conrade, I will not part with you! You, the foster brother of my Wilhelm! No, I cannot part with you! You shall not desert me, Conrade!"

His honest feeling could not resist the pleading of his lady, of Baron Wilhelm's sister; and finding himself somewhat relieved by the vent he had given his full heart, and grateful for the attachment his mistress evinced towards him, he con

VOL. III.

sented to remain in her service; stipulating only, not to enter the cathedral during the ceremony of the following morning.

Two such interviews were not calculated to tranquillise the mind of the Baroness, and it was with difficulty she put to silence the sinister thoughts they awakened. No other warning, no other intervention occurred; and the hour arrived, and passed, which was to decide her fate irrevocably.

CHAPTER V.

"Come, let me wring your heart! for so I shall, If it be made of penetrable stuff!"

:

THE ceremony which united Louisa, Baroness of Marchfeldt, to the Chevalier Warbeck of Wolfstein, was performed with all imaginable solemnity: a royal hand gave away the bride, and the Archbishop of Vienna, although he did not tie the knot, mingled his benedictions with those of Father Felix. Madame de Wolfstein imagined, that immediately on quitting the cathedral they should repair to the palace, to partake a farewell collation provided by the Empress; but it now appeared that Wolfsteïn had arranged otherwise, and had excused himself to the Imperial pair, on the plea of gaining such a station, on the conclusion of their first

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