; the shadow flitted from her feet, shrank
higher and higher, and was upon the point of leaving her altogether,
when the rumble of a coach was signalled to and fro by the birds. The
road in that part was very steep; the rumble drew near with great
deliberation; and ten minutes passed before a gentleman appeared,
walking with a sober elderly gait upon the grassy margin of the highway,
and looking pleasantly around him as he walked. From time to time he
paused, took out his note-book and made an entry with a pencil; and any
spy who had been near enough would have heard him mumbling words as
though he were a poet testing verses. The voice of the wheels was still
faint, and it was plain the traveller had far outstripped his carriage.

He had drawn very near to where the Princess lay asleep, before his eye
alighted on her; but when it did he started, pocketed his note-book, and
approached. There was a milestone close to where she lay; and he sat
down on that and coolly studied her. She lay upon one side, all curled
and sunken, her brow on one bare arm, the other stretched out, limp and
dimpled. Her young body, like a thing thrown down, had scarce a mark of
life. Her breathing stirred her not. The deadliest fatigue was thus
confessed in every language of the sleeping flesh. The traveller smiled
grimly. As though he had looked upon a statue, he made a grudging
inventory of her charms: the figure in that touching freedom of
forgetfulness surprised him; the flush of slumber became her like a
flower.

"Upon my word," he thought, "I did not think the girl could be so
pretty. And to think," he added, "that I am under obligation not to use
one word of this!"

He put forth his stick and touched her; and at that she awoke, sat up
with a cry, and looked upon him wildly.

"I trust your Highness has slept well," he said, nodding.

But she only uttered sounds.

"Compose yourself," said he, giving her certainly a brave example in his
own demeanour. "My chaise is close at hand; and I shall have, I trust,
the singular entertainment of abducting a sovereign Princess."

"Sir John!" she said at last.

"At your Highness's disposal," he replied.

She sprang to her feet. "O!" she cried, "have you come from Mittwalden?"

"This morning," he returned, "I left it; and if there is anyone less
likely to return to it than yourself, behold him!"

"The Baron----" she began, and paused.

"Madam," he answered, "it was well meant, and you are qu