r
carefully, but the paleness of his face, and the traces of tears in
his eyes, were not to be concealed, and he entered the saloon, where
the family were already assembled at the breakfast-table, with the
chaplain and the doctor.

The Baron rose to greet him: one glance at the young officer's face
was sufficient; he pressed his hand in silence, and led him to a
place by the side of the Baroness. An animated discussion now began
concerning the weather, which was completely changed; a strong south
wind had risen in the night, so there was now a thaw. The snow was all
melted--the torrents were flowing once more, and the roads impassable.

"How can you possibly reach Blumenberg, to-day?" the Baron inquired of
his guest.

"That will be well nigh impossible," said the doctor. "I am just
come from a patient at the next village, and I was nearly an hour
performing the same distance in a carriage that is usually traversed
on foot in a quarter of an hour."

Edward had not given a thought this morning to the shooting-match. Now
that it had occurred to him to remember it, he felt little regret at
being detained from a scene of noisy festivity which, far from being
desirable, appeared to him actually distasteful in his present frame
of mind. Yet he was troubled by the thought of intruding too long
on the hospitality of his new friends; and he said, in a hesitating
manner--

"Yes! but I must try how far--"

"That you shall not do," interrupted the Baron. "The road is always
bad: and in a thaw it is always dangerous. It would go against
my conscience to allow you to risk it. Remain with us: we have no
shooting-match or ball to offer you, but--"

"I shall not certainly regret either," cried Edward, eagerly.

"Well, then, remain with us, Lieutenant," said the matron, laying
her hand on his arm, with a kind, maternal gesture. "You are heartily
welcome; and the longer you stay with us, the better shall we be
pleased."

The youth bowed, and raised the lady's hand to his lips, and said--

"If you will allow me--if you feel certain that I am not intruding--I
will accept your kind offer with joy. I never care much for a ball,
at any time, and to-day in particular"--. He stopped short, and then
added, "In such bad weather as this, the small amusement--"

"Would be dearly bought." interposed the Baron. "Come, I am delighted;
you will remain with us."

He shook Edward warmly by the hand.

"You know you are with old friends."