expend her
astonishment; she cast her eyes down, it is true, but there was a
roguish smile on her face, which proved that the lecture did not sink
very deep. "Ah! what's the use of being angry?" she answered; "what
harm can it do to my dress, if I wear it once on a week day? The silver
chain will not suffer, and I can easily wash the apron."

"So! as if we had not washing and cleaning enough? But tell me, what
has put it into your head to make yourself so smart to-day?"

"Ah! don't you know, mother," said the blushing Swabian child, "that
to-day is the eighth day? Did not my father say the gentleman would
awake on the eighth day, if his medicines had their desired effect? And
so I thought----"

"Yes, this is about the time," replied the mother, kindly; "you are
quite right, child: if he awakes and sees everything about him slovenly
and dirty, we shall get into trouble with the father. And I am not fit
to be seen! Go, Barbelle, and fetch me my black jacket and red bodice,
and a clean apron."

"But, mother," said the young one, "you had better go and dress
yourself, while I remain here, for perhaps the gentleman may awake when
you are putting your things on."

"You are right again, girl," replied the mother, and, leaving the
breakfast on the table, retired to adorn her person. Her daughter
opened the window to the fresh morning air, for the purpose, according
to her usual practice, of feeding her pigeons, which were assembled
before the house waiting for their accustomed meal; larks and other
little birds saluting her in full chirping chorus, partook also of her
bounty, which the young girl enjoyed with innocent pleasure.

At this moment the curtains of the bed were opened, when the head of a
handsome young man looked out; we need not say it was Albert von
Sturmfeder.

A slight colour, the first messenger of returning health, played on his
cheeks; his look was as brilliant as ever, and his arm felt as
powerful. He surveyed his situation in astonishment; the room, with its
furniture, were strangers to him; everything about him was a riddle.
Who had bandaged his head? who had put him in this bed? His position
appeared to him like that of one who had passed a jovial night with his
companions, and, having lost his senses, awoke in some out-of-the-way
place.

He observed the girl at the window for some time. He could not keep his
eyes off her, as she was the first object he had seen; for the purpose
of drawing her a