ittle
astonished to see that the cheerfulness that was formerly expressed in
her countenance had fled, and that she endeavoured to avoid his
embrace. But this did not deter him from offering his usual courtesies
to his lovely cousin, whilst Colonel Starschedel, in a deep voice, told
her attentive father of the perfect union between the elector and the
king of Sweden, and the generous refusal of any security which the
Saxons had offered.

The imperial colonel could no longer listen in quiet to their
conversation. He rose and took his leave of the company with a few
cold expressions of politeness. No one attempted to detain him, and
the last angry look with which he turned from the Fraeulein fell upon
Talander, who was just entering, and who gave a singular look of
compassion at the departing colonel. He then posted himself behind the
chair of the Fraeulein, who felt uneasy at the attentions of her cousin,
whom she nevertheless loved as a brother. With deep melancholy the
seer's eyes rested now upon the venerable countenance of the colonel,
and now upon the youthful manly figure of his son. At this moment
there resounded in the court-yard the tramp of a horse, and the
magister said: "There goes the imperial colonel. We shall never see
him again, like many another who is in the prime of life."

"What are you thinking of?" asked the baron, suddenly interrupting him,
as the expression of his old inmate's countenance told him that his
words were prophetic. A general and mysterious awe seized the company,
their conversation, which before had been so animated, stopped, and the
chirping of a lark which hailed the morning dawn, gave them a welcome
pretext for retiring, as the Saxons had to join the army of their
elector on that day. The _Carbineers_ were already mounted in the
court-yard, the colonel took a parting cup with the baron, and the
grief at parting inspired the major in the very doorway to try to
extort from Tugendreich a confession of her inclination and a promise
of her hand. But Talander stepped between them and said with paternal
warning, "Young hero, you are riding forth towards on a great day.
This is not an hour to form a worldly alliance. As a Christian you
ought first to think of your end. You are perhaps nearer to it than
you think. Is the Fraeulein, if you fall, to weep as a widow for you?
This would be mere selfishness and not love. Do not stretch out your
hand so hastily after the myrtle cr