ness of the air: they proceeded a few steps in silence, when the Margrave said,

"Count Vallensteïn, I have a favour to ask. I have led a lounging, despicable life, till I am ashamed of it; I want to join the army. A word from you to the Duke of Friedland would at once obtain me such a post under him as I should be proud to accept. I do not seek emolument; but distinction is an object, and I would strive to merit it. You will, no doubt, be besieged by hundreds of such applicants; but I come straight to the point-I wish to serve, and would fain serve under

Will you oblige me, Count?"

your father.

Vallenstein would willingly have answered propitiously; but he was so ill prepared for the request, that he could not conceal the confusion and mortification with which he heard it, and his blush and his hesitation astonished Lindau.

66

If, sir," said he, "you have any scruple in naming the wish of the Mar

"Yes, Margrave, one objection I have, a powerful one; I have no interest.” "None to lend me, you mean, Count,” said Lindau, with an offended smile.

"Hear my explanation, and you will be satisfied. Before the Duke's retirement, I served four years as lieutenant in his own regiment; after which probation, he entrusted me with a colonelcy, and that was my sole preferment. I took humbly what was given, but never asked for aught, either for myself or others, and my patronage was confined to the nomination of the officers of my own corps: how much farther my interest might have stretched I cannot tell, because I did not make the experiment. In the present instance I have nothing, nor is it my intention to accept any thing, nor to ask a single favour, either for myself or another."

"You astonish me, Count!" said the Margrave, adding, with some quickness,

"Surely you cannot be disaffected to the service?"

"So far otherwise, that I would gladly shed my last blood for the house of Austria. If I serve, it will probably be as a volunteer."

The two young men had walked apart from the lively throng during this conference, and the mutual frankness which equally marked the request and the rejection left them pleased with each other. As for the young Margrave, the peculiarity of Vallenstein's situation caught his fancy, and, though he could not understand it, rendered him more than ever an object of interest and admiration in his eyes. Had Count Harrach overheard the conference, its effect on his affections would have been very opposite, and it would probably have swept away the crowd which now pressed close on the footsteps of the great man's son. As Lindau and Vallenstein stood, arm in arm, looking on the skaiters, Count Har

6

rach came bustling up with a sprightly, handsome youth, on whom leaned a lady, whose wrinkles proclaimed her to have long, long, passed the era of juvenile folly; she was, in short, approaching the period of which it is said, that all beyond is labour and sorrow:' the lilies and roses, however, bloomed redundantly on the furrowed cheek, and the oracle had not ceased within the antiquated temple. Count Harrach hastened to present Baron Rosebec to his ne phew, and was about to perform the like ceremony for the Baroness, when the fortunate spouse cried out,

"No, no, Harrach! Do you think I shall suffer my fair bride to flirt and coquette with all the handsome fellows ?"

"Oh!" exclaimed the Baroness, on seeing Vallensteïn, " you delightful creature! Oh! I have been so mortified! Nay, I would ten times rather never have found the centre diamond of my necklace, which you remember my losing

at the favorita, Count Harrach, than have missed such an interesting, edifying sight."

"What," asked the Margrave, "what have you missed, madam ?"

"Oh, that dear creature! I love him ten times more for his piety than for his heroism! Oh! had any one told me in time, I would have risen on purpose! I would not have missed being in the chapel! Besides, I could have taken the opportunity of saying my prayers at the same time. There is not a more beautiful sight than the piety of a brave youth. But how many pater nosters did you say in the hour, sir? For really people delight in telling one such improbable histories, and I would not give a fig for a story if it is not correct."

Till this direct application Vallensteïn could hardly convince himself that he was the theme of this rhapsody, and was inexpressibly vexed when the fact became manifest.