ildren worshipped her as the pretty cousin from Heidelberg,
trying to read by this miserable light, or was he sorrowing for his
family? Whatever wicked the poor man might have written, she felt a
sincere pity for him, and heartily did she mention him in her prayers.
"What a frightful certainty of belief must it be which puts a man to
death on account of his unbelief," thought she. She laid herself down
to rest at a late hour, but could not sleep. Her father's words kept
ringing in her ears, he also would soon be imprisoned in that dreadful
tower. If Paul could really save him, and she had rendered the aid of
no avail by not meeting him at the cross-roads? She began to weep
through very fear and inward grief. The wind howled and shook the
scaffolding outside, and more than once did she start up affrighted,
thinking she heard the boards creak under a creeping step, and a gentle
tap at her window. "If he came up here by the same way as does his
brother," stammered the terrified child hiding herself under the
blankets. Even in her dreams she felt the gnawing fear at heart. In her
nightmare she thought that Paul had attacked her and was sucking up her
young blood, plainly did she see him in the fearful cowl of the "mirror
of remembrance," his eyes glowed from under his hood, then the head
changed into a skull which essayed to kiss her with lipless mouth,
causing her to start up with a shriek from her couch. At last she fell
into a deep sleep and waking up late heard that her father was already
gone out to visit his patients. At table he was silent merely stating
"he would be away for a few days as he thought of holding a meeting
with some friends in another part of the Palatinate. One more effort
must be made to free the Kurfuerst from the hands of the fanatics."
Klytia sat once more alone pondering what it might be that the Magister
had to tell her concerning her father's welfare? It became more and
more plain to her, that she would be going against the latter's
interest, by simply refusing to hear Paolo's communications. Perhaps
Paul had something he might wish to say to her? Perhaps did he at last
feel in earnest, anxious to begin a new life, if she would only stretch
forth a hand to help him? She said to herself that it was impossible to
keep an appointment made on the hills, but it was as if the demoniacal
priest had encircled her soul with a rope, she felt drawn towards the
place appointed by him. Finally she could endur