hort time Malcolm appeared at the door.

"Ah! it is you, my young friend!" the count exclaimed; "and you have won
the rank of captain already by your brave deeds! Right glad am I to see
you again. I have come with my wife, to attend the court of this noble
king of yours. Can you come with me at once? The countess is longing to
see you, and will be delighted to hear that you have passed unscathed
through all the terrible contests in which you have been engaged. My
daughter is here too; she is never tired of talking about her young
Scottish soldier; but now that you are a captain she will have to be
grave and respectful."

Malcolm at once accompanied the count to his house, and was most kindly
received by the countess.

"It is difficult to believe," she said, "that 'tis but four months since
we met, so many have been the events which have been crowded into that
time. Scarce a day has passed but we have received news of some success
gained, of some town or castle captured, and your Green Brigade has
always been in the van. We have been constantly in fear for you, and
after that terrible battle before Leipzig Thekla scarcely slept a wink
until we obtained a copy of the Gazette with the names of the officers
killed."

"You are kind indeed to bear me so in remembrance," Malcolm said, "and
I am indeed grateful for it. I have often wondered whether any fresh
danger threatened you; but I hoped that the advance of the Marquis of
Hamilton's force would have given the Imperialists too much to do for
them to disturb you."

"Yes, we have had no more trouble," the countess replied. "The villages
which the Imperialists destroyed are rising again; and as after the
flight of the enemy the cattle and booty they had captured were all left
behind, the people are recovering from their visit. What terrible havoc
has the war caused! Our way here led through ruined towns and villages,
the country is infested by marauders, and all law and order is at an end
save where there are strong bodies of troops. We rode with an escort of
twenty men; but even then we did not feel very safe until we were fairly
through Franconia. And so you have passed unwounded through the strife?"

"Yes, countess," Malcolm replied. "I had indeed a ball through my leg
at Wurtzburg; but as it missed the bone, a trifle like that is scarcely
worth counting. I have been most fortunate indeed."

"He is a captain now," the count said, "and to obtain such promotion he
mus