s a very stupid thing."

"And you?"

"I?" she laughed again. "I jumped my horse over the dry ditch
yonder. Imitate me if you feel inclined, though I fear with your horse
and carriage it will not be quite so easy. But where are you going to?"

"To the Castle de Werve."

"To the Werve!" she repeated, descending the hill and approaching
me as nearly as she could on the opposite side of the ditch. "What
is your business at the Castle, sir?" she inquired, in quite another
tone, no longer speaking like a "somebody" to a "nobody."

"To pay a visit to General von Zwenken, and his granddaughter,
Freule Mordaunt."

"The General no longer receives visitors, and what you have to say
to his granddaughter you can address to me. I am Freule Mordaunt."

"I can scarcely believe it; but, if so, may I request Freule Mordaunt
to appoint a more suitable place than this. What I have got to say
cannot be shouted across a ditch in the presence of a third person."

"Then you must drive back to the toll-bar. There they will direct
you to the village, from which you can easily reach the Castle,
if your visit is so very urgent."

"In order to give you time to get home and deny yourself to all
visitors, my little Major," I thought to myself. "But now's my
opportunity, and I will not let it slip me."

So, giving orders to the driver to go on to the village and wait
for me there, I took my stout walking-stick, fixed it as firmly as
I could in the muddy bottom of the ditch, and reached the opposite
side I scarcely know how.

"Bravo! well done!" cried Francis, clapping her hands with delight.

As I approached I raised my hat, and she saluted with her riding-whip.

"This is an amusing adventure, sir," she said, again laughing;
"if you still wish to go to Werve you must cross the heath."

"Is it a long walk?"

"No, it is much shorter than by the high-road, but as you don't know
the way, you run the risk of getting lost again."

"You forget that I have a claim on your company for the rest of
the way."

"A claim! how do you make that out?"

"Miss Mordaunt promised me an interview; is it strange that I should
seize the first occasion that offers?"

"I don't even know the way myself. My horse has lost a shoe, and I
have left him at the game-keeper's, so I shall have to get home as
well as I can without assistance. Have you really business at the
Castle? I can assure you the General has an aversion to visitors!"

"I wish to make his