"Oh, but gracious Fraeulein, you must not say that!" cried the old
woman, looking as much shocked as if her young guest had broken one of
the commandments.

The girl laughed. "Why not?" she inquired. "Are the gentlemen of such
importance that they mustn't be criticized by strangers?"

Frau Yorvan was embarrassed. "They are excellent patrons of mine,
gracious Fraeulein, that is all I meant," said she. "I cannot bear
that unjust things should be thought of such--good gentlemen."

"I was only joking," the girl reassured her. "We are perfectly
satisfied with this room, which you have made most comfortable.
All I care for is that the famous walks in the neighborhood shall
not be private. I may, at least, walk as much as I like and even
climb a little, I and my friend, Miss Manchester, who is a daring
mountaineer," (with this she threw a glance at the middle-aged lady in
black, who visibly started and grew wild-eyed in response) "for I
suppose that your guests have not engaged the whole Schneehorn for
their own."

The landlady's hospitable smile returned. "No, gracious Fraeulein. You
are free to wander as you will, but do not, I beg you, go too far, or
attempt any climbs of real difficulty, for they are not to be done
without guides; and take care you do not stray into wild places where,
by making some movement or sound before you were seen by the hunters,
you might be mistaken for a chamois."

"Even our prowess is hardly likely to lead us into such peril as
that," laughed the girl, who seemed much more friendly and inclined
toward conversation than the two elders of the party. "But please
wake us early to-morrow morning. My friend Miss Manchester and I would
like to have breakfasted and be ready for a start by eight o'clock at
latest."

Again the placid features of the lady in black quivered; and though
she said nothing, Frau Yorvan pitied her. "Would you not wish, in any
case, to have a guide?" she asked. "I could engage you an intelligent
young man who--"

"Thank you, no," broke in the girl, decidedly. "A guide-book is
preferable to a guide, for what we mean to do. We sha'n't attempt any
places which the book says are unsafe for amateurs. But what an
excellent engraving that is over the fireplace, with the chamois horns
above it. Isn't that a portrait of your Emperor when he was a boy?"

The landlady's eyes darted to the picture. "Ach, I had meant to carry
it away," she muttered.

The girl's quick ears caught