nister lion's head
frowns down at those who enter this stern prison. The arms of Wirtemberg
are emblazoned on each side of the lion's head, surmounted by that ducal
crown for which the Graevenitz had made so audacious a struggle.

Her coach drew up before this gate and Roeder bade her descend. Here his
charge ended, he had conveyed the Land-despoiler to durance vile. The
governor of the prison met his prisoner at the gate. A bluff-mannered
Wirtemberger, short of stature, red of visage, and with fiery little
twinkling eyes beneath heavy, bristling eyebrows. A fierce bull-dog man
he looked, but his appearance belied him; for he was a tender-hearted
gentleman, and received his prisoner with a courteous consideration which
many a polished courtier would not have offered to the fallen tyrant. Up
the steep, dark, well-like road to the inner courtyard he led the
Graevenitz, followed by Maria, who wept bitterly.

'I have orders to lodge you safely, Excellency. Safe you will be here,
and I do not purpose to restrict your liberty greatly,' he said as he
ushered her into a small chamber with a door leading on to the ramparts.
Two sentries stood on either side of the entrance to her apartment, but
for the rest the room was clean and pleasant, and commanded a fair view
of the plain beneath.

'I thank you, Monsieur, for your kindness,' she said, approaching the
barred window. Then she gave a little cry, like to the moan of one
wounded when a fresh agony is inflicted.

'Give me a cell, Monsieur--a dungeon; only not that--not that--if you
have mercy in your heart!' she pointed tragically through the window. In
the dying sunlight lay the great palace of Ludwigsburg, the rounded
roofs, the terraces, and the Chateau Joyeux of La Favorite in the midst
of flowering parterres.

'I regret, Madame, believe me. I regret infinitely, but I have not
another apartment to offer you. Do not look from the window overmuch,
Madame.' The old man's voice broke and he put out his strong rough hand
to draw her away from the beautiful, peaceful view. But how inconsistent
is the human heart! She waved him away, and stood as though rooted to the
spot, her eyes fixed upon the scene of her passed happiness.

* * * * *

At first the tumult in her heart shut out the peace which was silently
waiting for admittance; the peace of seclusion bringing those calm
thoughts which wait upon the fevered soul of man in Nature's vast
aloo