irza ran to her father and threw her arms round his neck, and
burst into a passion of tears. He did not attempt to cheek them for
some little time.

"Now, my dear," he said at last, "you must be brave, or you won't
be worthy of this lover of yours. There is one bad point about it."

She looked up in his face anxiously, but his smile reassured her.

"You must prepare yourself for his being somewhat disfigured."

"Oh, that is nothing, father; nothing whatever to me! But how is he
disfigured?"

"Well, my dear, he has lost his left arm, at the elbow."

Thirza gave a little cry of grief and pity.

"That is sad, father; but surely it is no disfigurement, any more
than that sabre scar on his face. 'Tis an honour, to a brave
soldier, to have lost a limb in battle. Still, I am glad that it is
his left arm; though, had it been his right and both his legs, it
would have made no difference in my love for him."

"Well, I am very glad, Thirza, that your love has not been tested
so severely; as I confess that, for my part, I would much prefer
having a son-in-law who was able to walk about, and who would not
have to be carried to the altar. Here is a letter to you from
him--that is to say, which has been written at his dictation, for
of course the surgeons insist on his lying perfectly quiet, at
present."

Thirza tore it open, and ran through its contents.

"It is just as you say, father. He makes very light of it, and
writes as if it were a mere nothing."

She handed the letter to her mother, and then turned to the count.

"Is there anything we can do, father?"

"Nothing whatever. With such a wound as that, he will have to lie
perfectly still for some time. You may be sure that, as one of
Frederick's personal staff, he will have every attention possible;
and were we all in the town, we could do nothing. As soon as he is
fit to be moved, it will be different; but we shall have plenty of
time to talk over matters before that.

"For some few months travelling will be dangerous. Frederick's army
is in the neighbourhood again and, as Daun and Lacy are both in
their intrenchments behind the Plauen, there is no chance of his
again besieging Dresden; but his flying columns will be all over
the country, as doubtless will the Croats, and the roads will be
altogether unsafe for travelling. No doubt, as soon as he is able
to be moved, he will be taken to Frederick's headquarters, wherever
they may be established. The king will a