em indeed of half their charms, yet leaving them
visible, and in their real relation to himself. During this mental
change the autumn arrived, and with it the long-expected commission.
It did not indeed occasion the joy which it might have done in former
days, when it would have led to a meeting with Ferdinand, or at
all events to a better chance of meeting, but it released him from
the thraldom of college, and it opened to him a welcome sphere of
activity. Now it so happened that his appointment led him accidentally
into the very neighborhood where Ferdinand had formerly resided, only
with this difference, that Edward's squadron was quartered in the
lowlands, about a short day's journey from the town and woodland
environs in question.

He proceeded to his quarters, and found an agreeable occupation in the
exercise of his new duties.

He had no wish to make acquaintances, yet he did not refuse the
invitations that were pressed upon him, lest he should he accused of
eccentricity and rudeness; and so be found himself soon entangled in
all sorts of engagements with the neighboring gentry and nobility. If
these so-called gayeties gave him no particular pleasure, at least for
the time they diverted his thoughts; and with this view he accepted
an invitation (for the new-year and carnival were near at hand) to
a great shooting-match which was to be held in the mountains--a spot
which it was possible to reach in one day, with favorable weather
and the roads in good state. The day was appointed, the air tolerably
clear; a mild frost had made the roads safe and even, and Edward had
every expectation of being able to reach Blumenberg in his sledge
before night, as on the following morning the match was to take place.
But as soon as he got near the mountains, where the sun retires so
early to rest, snow-clouds drove from all quarters, a cutting wind
came roaring through the ravines, and a heavy fall of snow began.
Twice the driver lost his way, and daylight was gone before he had
well recovered it; darkness came on sooner than in other places,
walled in as they were by dark mountains, with dark clouds above their
heads. It was out of the question to dream of reaching Blumenberg that
night; but in this hospitable land, where every householder welcomes
the passing traveler, Edward was under no anxiety as to shelter.
He only wished, before the night quite set in, to reach some
country-house or castle; and now that the storm had abat