rm and heady; the lights swam, weaving their maze
across the shaken pool; on the impending rock, reflections danced like
butterflies; and the air was fanned by the waterfall as by a swinging
curtain.

Otto, who was weary with tossing and beset with horrid phantoms of
remorse and jealousy, instantly fell dead in love with that
sun-chequered, echoing corner. Holding his feet, he stared out of a
drowsy trance, wondering, admiring, musing, losing his way among
uncertain thoughts. There is nothing that so apes the external bearing
of free will as that unconscious bustle, obscurely following liquid
laws, with which a river contends among obstructions. It seems the very
play of man and destiny, and as Otto pored on these recurrent changes,
he grew, by equal steps, the sleepier and the more profound. Eddy and
Prince were alike jostled in their purpose, alike anchored by intangible
influences in one corner of the world. Eddy and Prince were alike
useless, starkly useless, in the cosmology of men. Eddy and
Prince--Prince and Eddy.

It is probable he had been some while asleep when a voice recalled him
from oblivion. "Sir," it was saying; and looking round, he saw Mr.
Killian's daughter, terrified by her boldness, and making bashful
signals from the shore. She was a plain, honest lass, healthy and happy
and good, and with that sort of beauty that comes of happiness and
health. But her confusion lent her for the moment an additional charm.

"Good-morning," said Otto, rising and moving towards her. "I arose early
and was in a dream."

"O, sir!" she cried, "I wish to beg of you to spare my father; for I
assure your Highness, if he had known who you was, he would have bitten
his tongue out sooner. And Fritz, too--how he went on! But I had a
notion; and this morning I went straight down into the stable, and there
was your Highness's crown upon the stirrup-irons! But, O, sir, I made
certain you would spare them; for they were as innocent as lambs."

"My dear," said Otto, both amused and gratified, "you do not understand.
It is I who am in the wrong; for I had no business to conceal my name
and lead on these gentlemen to speak of me. And it is I who have to beg
of you that you will keep my secret and not betray the discourtesy of
which I was guilty. As for any fear of me, your friends are safe in
Gerolstein; and even in my own territory, you must be well aware I have
no power."

"O, sir," she said, curtseying, "I would not say tha