and Wilhelmine von Graevenitz stood on the threshold.
She looked like some lavish flower of a tropic clime, a gorgeous white
blossom, surrounded by rich golden outer petals. Her gown was of the
delicate yellow colour which she loved, and her bare breast was creamy
white, and showing the blue tracery of the veins through the fine skin.
From her shoulders fell a heavy white brocade cloak, trimmed with ermine
like the coronation robe of a queen. Her hair was powdered and piled high
on her head, the towering masses adding height to her great stature. She
looked a queen among women, a glorious figure of youth and majesty, and
it was little wonder that Eberhard Ludwig was enthralled.

'Dressed as a royal princess already!' spitefully whispered Stafforth to
Marie Graevenitz, who looked at her radiant sister-in-law with envy
written on her narrow face.

Eberhard Ludwig came forward, bowed profoundly before his bride, and led
her towards the altar. The Pastor stared in astonishment when he saw the
woman he had undertaken to marry to his Prince, for he recognised the
traveller he had met at Tuebingen. The stranger's face had haunted his
dreams.

And now the brief ceremony commenced. The Pastor, evidently nervous,
mumbled his words indistinctly; and of a truth, no one of the assembled
company paid much heed to the sermon and prayers, for each was busy with
thoughts of personal ambition and intrigue, excepting Marie Graevenitz,
whose lips moved rapidly in prayer that she might be forgiven for taking
part in an heretical rite. Madame de Ruth watched Wilhelmine with adoring
eyes; perchance she dreamed this beautiful woman to be her child returned
to her. Poor mite, who slept forgotten in its tiny grave----!

'May the blessing of God rest upon you, and may God enable you to keep
sacred the vows you have made this day,' concluded the Pastor, and the
bride and bridegroom rose from their knees.

'I have the honour to present to you Madame la Comtesse d'Urach, which
title I hereby confer upon my beloved wife, pending the bestowal of the
first title of my Dukedom, which I shall hope to be able to offer to my
wife in a few months' time. Meanwhile, I beg you, my friends, of your
good feeling, to pay the same respects and courtesies to the Countess of
Urach as you, so kindly, pay to myself.'

Up jumped Madame de Ruth and kissed Wilhelmine on both cheeks, then sank
to the ground before her in a deep courtesy; but the other friends hung