ming?" And Madame von Eisenthal swept him
a deep curtsey with a killing glance of adoration.

"It is new?" he asked. "Vienna fashion."

"Mint new," replied the lady, "for your Highness's return. I felt young
this morning; it was a premonition. But why, Prince, do you ever leave
us?"

"For the pleasure of the return," said Otto. "I am like a dog; I must
bury my bone, and then come back to gloat upon it."

"O, a bone! Fie, what a comparison! You have brought back the manners of
the wood," returned the lady.

"Madam, it is what the dog has dearest," said the Prince. "But I observe
Madame von Rosen."

And Otto, leaving the group to which he had been piping, stepped towards
the embrasure of a window where a lady stood.

The Countess von Rosen had hitherto been silent, and a thought
depressed, but on the approach of Otto she began to brighten. She was
tall, slim as a nymph, and of a very airy carriage; and her face, which
was already beautiful in repose, lightened and changed, flashed into
smiles, and glowed with a lovely colour at the touch of animation. She
was a good vocalist; and, even in speech, her voice commanded a great
range of changes, the low notes rich with tenor quality, the upper
ringing, on the brink of laughter, into music. A gem of many facets, and
variable hues of fire; a woman who withheld the better portion of her
beauty, and then, in a caressing second, flashed it like a weapon full
on the beholder; now merely a tall figure and a sallow handsome face,
with the evidences of a reckless temper; anon opening like a flower to
life and colour, mirth and tenderness:--Madame von Rosen had always a
dagger in reserve for the despatch of ill-assured admirers. She met Otto
with the dart of tender gaiety.

"You have come to me at last, Prince Cruel," she said. "Butterfly! Well,
and am I not to kiss your hand?" she added.

"Madam, it is I who must kiss yours." And Otto bowed and kissed it.

"You deny me every indulgence," she said, smiling.

"And now what news in court?" inquired the Prince. "I come to you for my
gazette."

"Ditch-water!" she replied. "The world is all asleep, grown grey in
slumber; I do not remember any waking movement since quite an eternity;
and the last thing in the nature of a sensation was the last time my
governess was allowed to box my ears. But yet I do myself and your
unfortunate enchanted palace some injustice. Here is the last--O
positively!" And she told him the story from b