is guardian was Councillor R?mer, who, at the reading of the will, shook his head and pondered deeply upon the inconsistencies that exist in the human soul. The old man who had wellni

o which it belonged was to be divided, and each portion-forest-land, farm-land, farm-buildings, meadows, and kitchen-gardens-sold singly to the highest bidder. As for the villa, with its surrounding park, it was to be sold likewise, and Councillor R?mer was to be allowed to purchase it, if he wished to do so, at the rate of five thousand thalers less than its taxable value. These five thousand thalers were his, not only as some

had long been betrothed. In the young girl's letters thence to her guardian she had never expressed a wish to revisit her home, nor had it ever occurred to her grandfather, the castle miller, to recall her. He had acquiesced willingly in her removal to Dresden, because the sight of her constantly renewed his grief for his daughter, the only being whom he had ever really loved. Now, after his death, the girl's guardian requested her to return, for some time at least, arranging at the same time to be her escort himself from Dresden as soon as the weather should become wa

black silk dress was so well caught up that there was no trace of mud upon its edge. She looked no elf or fairy as she walked on with a sure, elastic step. No; she was rather like some fair Alpine maid, with veins and sinews full of vigorous health, nourished by the pure breath of the mountain air and the sweet fresh milk of mountain-fed cows. A close black velvet jacket, trimmed with fur, showed the full, graceful outlines of bust and

e looked, flooding the walls of the grand old pile of masonry heaped up in ancient times beneath the eye of its noble builder! The day before yesterday the last thick icicle had fallen clattering from the open jaws of the lion's head at the end of the gutter on the roof, above which the air was now quivering with heat from the sun-baked slate. The sap was swelling i

ross the yard in a coaxing voice. The dogs leaped

" asked the miller

thing, Franz, except to say 'g

"miller's mouse," and, swift and agile as any mouse, would follow him about the mill and granary for hours at a time; now she was mistress here, and he, the former foreman, her tenant. "Queer enough," he said, shaking his head in loutish wonder; "the eyes and the dimples in the cheeks are the same,

over to the dogs and caressing them as they leaped up upon her. "You give me

the villa are always call

dee

's the mill,-the finest far or near. Zounds! 'tis a prize indeed. Good grac

nd a dreary life I shall lead yo

again, poor old thing! Her own doctoring d

ith emotion, and stood still for a moment with folded hands. Yes, she had indeed loved to make herself "at home" in the mill, as the Frau President had said, and her father had often brushed the flour from her dress and braids and laughingly called her his "little white miller's mouse." Thu stern old man, her grandfather, whom she could best remember shouting down his orders, in a harsh, authoritative voice, from the first landing of the stairs, h

's wailing voice. Ah, yes, there was the poor old servant's sleeping-room,-a dark little chamber, with round, leaded panes of glass in the windows, through whic

portion. He was apparently about to depart, for he had hat and cane in hand. Ah, this, then, was Doctor Bruck, of whom her brother-in-law Moritz had told her when he informed her of the betrothal of her beautiful sister Flora,-how, as a student, the young doctor had secretly

dress rustled, or the stream of fresh air that she brought with her, and that seem

cing herself; and, passing him quickly, she held out both han

ared at her with

ed gray locks beneath her night-cap. "How comes it that I find you here in this wretched little back room? The stove smokes, and does not give

uch a crazy thing for me to be stuck up all alone in the best co

ng-wheel stood by the window; I am sure I have often enough put it out of order for you; and your work-basket had

determined opposition," he replied, with a shrug. His voice was gentle but sonorous, and

" said Kitty, as she laid her fur cap u

entreated, peevishly. "That room is the very apple of my eye; I have been cleaning it and rubbing it up every day s

ildhood. But, since you are so obstinate, I will not come at all, depend upon it. I shall only be four

ung girl's face and bearing showed that she was not dealin

ed it to her young mistress, who was hastily pulling off her velvet jacket. "Of cour

said Doctor Bruck, with a glance at her ri

uld not," she replied, gravely, but wi

ove of the corner room, where Doctor Bruck opened the windows, that th

ill fit to be seen," displaying as she spoke, not without some scorn in the

w, through which a strong draught came so freshly that it fluttered the brown curls upon the girl's forehead. The curt

medi?val room that can be imagined! I meant to arrange and furnish it just as it might have been three centuries ago, with round, leaded panes of glass, and broad, oaken, cushioned window-seats; and there, upon the huge door leading out upon the stairs, I meant to have large antique

e-- Are you not

he invalid! A bed was made up on the sofa; the castle miller's huge leather-cushioned arm-chair was drawn out of the window-niche and placed so as to shelter the patient from every draught. She brought a little table from the recess, and placed the well-scoured footstool before the high sofa, and all was done as regularly and easily as if she had never been away from the mill. She was so absorbed in the occupation of the moment that she seemed to have quite forgotten the presence of the man standing by the southern window. Only when she opened the table-drawer and took out a

yours

ation. She went on to remove every particle of dust that had accumulated during Susie's illness upon tables and chairs, and closed the other windows. "There must be some fl

ach; she has absolute and sole control of th

rue, my father's distinguished mother-in-law was, at that time, only an occasional guest at the villa." Her melodious voice sharpened slightly in tone as she spoke these last words, but she tosse

not immediately upon your arrival place yourself under the protection of the family?" he

tween us,-I have corresponded only with Moritz. While papa lived, Henriette resided with her grandmother; we saw each other but seldom, and then always in the presence of the Frau President. My sister, Moritz R?mer's wife, lived in town, and died long ago. And Flora? She was very beautiful and charming,-a belle who was at the hea

the lovely girl as Jacob served for Rachel? Possibly he did not even like to think that love for a sister could find lodgment in the heart that was at last his ow

y native soil, the air of home about me, and the sensation of home in my heart; and Franz and Susie will as faithfully protect my minority as can be done at the villa, with all its strict etiqu

gliding hither and thither into holes and corners scarcely befitted this girl, so calmly presenting to the world the spotle

d fine when she comes in here now," she said, gaily, looking about her once more to see that all was as it should be. Everything was in order, except that the recess door was ajar, and through it could be seen the gay carnations upon

there?" she whis

d and pointed towards the

he asked, quickly, com

es

uch an unsatisfactory account of his death

lose tightly, as if it were difficult for them to frame a reply. After a moment's pause, he slowly turned and looked her full in the fa

the glance which had been fixed upon th

ld like to assure you that such an assertion is utterly untrue; but how can I expect that

lameless and public opinion in the wrong? True, his whole bearing was stamped with simple frankness and integrity. She could not but feel that it was not his nature to deign one word in self-justifi

d proud composure that Kitty had a sudden sense of shame, and the blood rushed t

om she wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, and lear

was not to blame for the misfortune. Everything went well; I saw it with my own eyes. But the castle miller was to keep perfectly quiet. He keep quiet, indeed! I know better than any one how the smallest trifle would make him turn red as a turkey-cock. Why, if Franz on

gravely, to impose silence

y that such a good gentleman as the doctor should be so abused, and the very bread taken out of his mouth; and it is too bad for his poor old aunt, for whom he wo

home, her thoughts and hopes were too much concentrated in Dresden, to admit of much interest at present in the private affairs of Flora's lover. She certainly pitied the physician,

and assist the sufferer. It was a characteristic group that met his eyes. Kitty had put around her neck the invalid's sound arm, holding the brown, bony hand firmly clasped in her own upon her left shoulder, while her

curtains, was much shocked at the bed upon the "beautiful sofa," and tried in vain to conceal her pleas

e risk of intruding upon the Frau President's distinguished tea-table," she said, with a feigned shud

those

Susie,-she is just what she used to be, always astir, not a moment lost. You ought to see her. Such another