now, Fraeulein," said the old man, gravely. "But tell
me what has become of Herr Axel," he asked, looking cautiously around.
"I saw him also in my dream, but not in the jacket of a dragoon."

"Ah!" said she, sobbing, "he has just gone. He could no longer delay,
for a great battle is impending."

"Indeed it is, but be of good cheer, the bold Swede will survive it.
You will yet--" here the magister broke off, vexed with himself, as
though he had already said too much, and prepared for departure.

"But to-morrow, dear magister?" sighed she.

"The _morrow_ has already become _to-day_," said Talander, in a
comforting tone, "and your hostile constellation has lost its
influence. Go boldly back to the castle with me. My awful vision has
shown me many things, and you will find great changes. From poor Baron
Grotta you have nothing more to fear in this life. But come, that the
daylight may not surprise us. My dream was a long one." He now led
her out of the mill where the four attendants were in readiness. Under
their escort they arrived in safety at the castle, at the gates of
which, to their astonishment, they missed the sentinel of Tienfenbach's
corps, and were surprised to see the baronial hall brightly lighted up.

"God be praised that you have come, you have been absent a long time,"
said her maid, who was waiting for her. "Two hours ago a hasty order
arrived for the soldiers to start immediately, and the colonel will
also depart at break of day. Your betrothal was to take place this
very night, but as neither you nor the magister were to be found, the
baron began to suspect and your father showed great displeasure.
Suddenly some horsemen galloped into the courtyard. They were Saxons,
and proved to be Colonel Von Starschedel and his son, the major, with
six carbineers. Now the tables were turned. The baron had to
congratulate himself that these gentlemen, respecting the right of
hospitality, did not take him prisoner, for his men were gone and your
father was too much afraid of these relations to say any more on the
subject of your betrothal. Now they are all sitting together and
hardly know what to say to each other. Only come and see. The
handsome major has already asked for his lovely cousin twice." The
Fraeulein now went with a light heart into the hall, where she found
them sitting at their wine, the colonel and the Saxons quickly rose on
her entrance, and the major hastened towards her, not a l