half of the tower that there would have been no room for anything m

pon his money-bags as his patent of nobility had already cost him! There upon the walls hung the armour of her knightly race,-the weapons with which the old giants had striven for honour and shame, for lands and blood. The heavier the dints upon the old breastplates, the more

e above, with its small decorated key-hole. The historic powder from the Thirty Years' War was still in the cellar,-tolerated there by the councillor, only, as Henriette averred, that the inquisitive visitor might have an opportunity of seeing the costly wines arranged beside it in well-ordered rows. It was this that made Kitty a stranger in the home of her childhood; this display, this estimate of effect, for which no outlay of money was too great; this feverish effort to proclaim to the world that the basis of everything here was of gold,--all this was in direct contradiction to the spirit of the old Mang

dly enough, was the heiress of the family; she was reminded daily that as such she was distinguished and flattered, and she was repeatedly taught that she never should arrange these same brown braids herself, that a lady's maid was indispensably necessary; but she opposed an energetic will to the Frau Pr

m the mountains, that swelled it to a torrent, the little river rolled along, clay-coloured in hue; but the minnows showed here and there like flecks of molten silver, the sof

the river, and the leafy grove behind it, on the other side of the fence, gave it the character of a woodland cottage. Its exterior was not imposing, to be sure; it had only one row of windows, directly above which arose the roof with its gilded weather-cock and massive chimneys, one of which was actually smoking,-an incredible sight. It was long indeed since a fire had been kindled on that hearth or a lamp lighted within those walls. During the lifetime of the castle miller it had been used as a store-

ove the din of the rushing river and of the sparrows twittering upon the roof. Some of the windows were open; she could see, within, hanging baskets filled with green creeping plants and vines, and the bright glitter of burnished copper on the kitchen walls;

lady, slender, refined, almost virginal in appearance. A table standing beside her was piled with books and pictures, which she was engaged in dus

with hard work, grown gray amidst pots and pans, and liking nothing so much as baking pancakes; she could not reconcile the picture of her imagination with

child: I only came from Dresden a few days ago, and-- That is my sister," she added, hastily, pointing to the picture, and then breaki

to the young girl. "Then you are the doctor's youngest sister-in-law." A faint shadow crossed her face. "I

Mangold family, that Doctor Bruck had not thought it worth while to mention having met her? She bit her lip, and silently followed the

n a tone in which was plainly audible her satisfaction at havin

ctor privately made the purchase of this place with his savings, and showed it to me as my own a few hours afterwards." Her voice was husky with emotion as she spoke the last words. With what pride did she call her nephew "the doctor"! and as she spoke she smiled pleasantly. "Is it not a charming place,-quite a castle?" she asked. "See these folding-doors, and the graceful decoration of the ceilings. Those leather hang

luable, perhaps, as a likeness, but scarcely as a work of art. The plants at each of the high, broad windows decorated the room charmingly; there were various kinds of azaleas and palms, and magnificent india-rubber trees, just now tinged with gold by the sunshine that came broadly in through the n

oticed the girl's admiring gaze. "Of course I put the finest in the doctor's ro

y one of the finest parts of the park, and in the distance, behind the lindens, the blue tiles of the roof of the villa could be seen. Between these windows stood the writing-table, so that when the doctor raised his eyes from his work he could see the flag-staff of the villa pointing towards heaven,--towards heaven! Kitty

o the family relations, but as Bruck's youngest sister-in-law, who must of necessity be so well aware of everything connected with him that there was no need of any mention that she was his aunt. Surely she could not have known much of the inmat

n that his aunt had left the city. She had wished to spare him all the annoyance of moving; and the councillor

a step so noiseless that it could not have disturbed the doctor if he had been seated at his writing-

ung girl with a charming air of hospitality. "They are fresh; I made them to-day, busy as I was. The doctor always has a supply for his little patie

d the crimson cushions of the lounge. What a contrast it was to this simple content and self-denial! And how all this reminded her of her Dresden home! Her heart warmed to the dean's widow, a

of education?" the aunt asked, with a smile, as her eye

ce too loud, and I am too robust,-not sufficiently pale. Heaven knows, I am a trial indeed! Is that your sister's portrait

r from vertigo, and dare not mount a step-ladder. A few weeks ago I was obliged to dismiss my servant,"-a faint flush tinged

and hepatica into a pretty little milk-white vase that stood beside the inkstand. Then she pulled the table out into the room, and m

t would constantly meet the eyes of the betrayed lover? It was no longer his, it would in a few short days be reclaimed, with the ring which he still wore on his finger. How the thought pained her! The old lady passed her hand caressingly over th

like a hypocrite for not snatching the picture from the old lady's hand and unmasking the serpent that was ready to dart at her heart. But she could say nothing. She hammered at the nail so vigorously that t

as she entered the small apartment, and, taking the gay chintz curtains from where they lay ready, mounted the ladder. She stood so high in the dark recess beside the window that she could touch the projecting foot of one of the a

ay, he had come through the hall and entered his aunt's room. The old lady turned, and threw her arms around him with, "Ah, Leo, here you are already!" The raspberry syrup was entirely forgotten, as well as the kind

d lady's head as he drew her towards him and, taking her hand from hi

ming out here without your knowledge

ke in so short a time, for you know how injurious all household conf

used to have, and here"-she lightly passed her hand over his forehead-"there is somethin

with it. "How attractive this room is to me, in spite of its shabby walls!" he said, as, with hands clasped behind him, he surveyed her writing-table. "It breathes of the peace of mind

certain day in June," she said, archly;

ath; it would never do to be seen now. Every minute she hoped that the doctor would go into his room and give her the opportunity of slipping down from her perch and leaving without meeting him. Her whole

getful my poor old head is growing! That letter came from town a few hours ago; it is from Lenz, the merchant, and I did not mean to let you

dismisses me," he said, calmly, tossing the letter and the paper m

ed, warmly and confidently. "The obstacles that chance and calumny place in your path do not mislead me,-you will succeed." She pointed towards the open door of the corner room. "Look at your little study; you can

will not have you standing for hours upon the cold stone floor of a kitchen. You must send for our old cook to-day, if you can. There is no

surprise at the golden stream rolling h

satisfaction; "our hard times are past." And, as

ore; but she asked no questions as to the cure or

he could escape unseen; even the dean's widow might suppose she had left the bedroom long since, without hearing a word that had been said. She cast a stealthy glance through the door of the corner

r-in-law, put those flowers there. Indeed, I am absent-minded and forgetful!" The old lady hu

th pretty net curtains, belonging to the aunt's sitting-room. One of them was open, and from it came the fragrance of hyacinth and narcissus. Suddenly a man's hand, strong and shap

ing of the flowers on his writing-table as an officious act on the part of a thoughtless, forward young girl. With her eyes shining wit

? they belong to me; I laid them down for a moment and forgot t

was annoyed that Kitty had observed him; but, if so, he instantly suppressed the sensation, and said, kindly,

e fine bearded face, belonged of right, it seemed, to a soldier, and should have been clad in uniform, were

il air," she said, with a smile. "They need to be searched for, but, when found, are worth a whole hot-house full of plants." H

indow, and begged the young gir

esden in a few weeks," the doctor a

is strange relations with his betrothed? The idea troubled her, but chiefly because of the

s house will be prolonged for months. You, as Henriette's physician, can best say how many ma

devote yoursel

ghts of suffering entirely alone, rather than summon attendants whose sleepy, sullen faces irritate her diseased, sensitive nerves; and,

he passed his hands slowly over his forehead, so that his eyes were hid

said, softly. "Bu

passion; but no one can tell how long it may be before the invalid--will need no further care. And there

lf, Herr Doctor, when you look at me?" she asked, gaily. "I am strong and well: in constitution like my grandmother Sommer, who was a

is aunt, half hidden behind her flowers, was lost i

vous system. However," he suddenly interrupted himself, "it is not my part to influence your resolutions. That is your guardian's affair. Moritz must decide, and will probably see

e asked, with great gentleness. "Am I desirous of doing any thing wrong? Ought Moritz to use his authority to prevent me from fulfilling my sisterly duty? I think not. But there is

so to arrange it,"

she rejoined, just as decidedly, with a meaning look, before whic

he was so strangely silent. He stood plucking some withered vine-leaves from the

" the old lady asked the girl, ki

grandmother to-day as when, years ago, my father used to command me to kiss her hand; hence I constantly come into collision with all kinds of irritating causes which do not exist for others, and which tormented and worried me as a child. And how chilly it has grown in my father's house!"-she shivered,-"there is too much marble beneath my feet; and Moritz has become so frightfully distinguished,"-two roguish dimples appeared in her cheeks,-"I am

ied slightly to the doctor, and left the garden to