is it not? Thus the great cause of contention has ceased between us. The Marchfeldt did horrible execution last night; she destroyed your substance, and my shadow, for she has annihilated poor Lindau! Well, au revoir, Vallensteïn, I shall expect you with hand ungloved."

CHAPTER XV.

"How happy some, o'er other some can be!
Through Athens I am thought as fair as she.
But what of that? Demetrius thinks not so;
He will not know what all but he do know.
And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes,
So I, admiring of his qualities."

Shakspeare.

VALLENSTEIN found a small but brilliant circle, with the Empress at their head, at Princess Stolberg's; and, in the moment of his entrance, Count Harrach was amusing the company with a recital of the morning adventures, and celebrating the unheard-of heroism of his nephew in his usual courtly eloquence; insomuch, that they who listened to his superlative epithets might have supposed that all the exploits of the rival heroes, Achilles and Hector, with those of all their train of hostile knights, Greek and

Trojan, were a mere joke in comparison with Casimir's gallantry in rescuing Baroness Rosebec from a downfall on the ice. He had the gratification, however, to find his oratorical essay crowned with universal interest and approbation, for his magnified nephew was the favourite of the hour; and it is easy to exalt the most insignificant action into a miracle of one who has attained that shining but precarious eminence. Count Harrach paused, as his hero entered. Princess Stolberg met and led him to the Empress, who presented him her hand with a look of such affectionate and gracious approval, as touched even his chilled bosom with consoling warmth. He felt himself regarded by all with unusual interest, for in fact it was generally whispered that he had been finally repulsed by Baroness Marchfeldt, and the ladies all voluntarily accorded their pity, as the preliminary to a more positive gift; for he was the handsomest man at court, and enjoyed the reputation of being at once

the bravest and the gentlest. How this secret transpired no one could tell, but that it was widely circulated and impli citly believed was certain; and that the Baroness had not been bidden to the select assembly of this evening, was justly interpreted a compliment to the feelings of the rejected swain.

Harrach now, with an air of much importance, acquainted his nephew that his godlike brother had sent him a somewhat hasty summons; and that, from the brief manner in which his excellency notified his pleasure, he conceived that he would immediately take the field.

"To be sure," said he, "this promptness in execution is only one of a thousand prodigious attributes; but methinks I could have been well content, had it so pleased him, to pause a little while, for the equipping and accoutring of myself and equipage is not the work of a moment. I could wish that the brother of the most illustrious and conspicuous man in Europe should make a figure conve

nient and suitable to such an alliance.When do you set forth, Casimir ?"

He was saved the trouble of reply by the entrance of the Chevalier, which attracted every one's attention: Princess Stolberg hastened to meet him, with an aspect of displeased surprise..

"You here, Wolfstein!" said she; “I did not expect you. You are no negative character, and therefore, when you are not bidden, you might draw a positive inference."

"That I am not welcome, Princess ?"

"I am loth to utter words so discourteous; but, in very truth, Wolfsteïn, you must not stay. I expect Professor Westermann, and even were his philosophic good nature to overlook the insult of your presence, her Imperial Majesty, who selected the party, would find herself offended in his person.-Positively, Wolfstein, you must amuse yourself somewhere else this evening."

“Hear me, charming Stolberg! I knew you expected the professor this evening,