eir hearts to handsome young
fellows of their own rank in life. With this idea strong in her mind,
she thought how painful must be the situation of the noble lady, living
in the high and distant castle, not to know whether her treasure were
dead or alive, nor to be able to come to him, to see him, and to watch
over him.

These reflections brought tears into her eye, generally so animated and
cheerful. Her heart was touched at the idea of the narrow escape the
lady had run of losing her lover; and supposing her to be the daughter
of a noble, rich knight, she necessarily must be very beautiful, her
imagination led her to fancy her situation to be doubly inconsolable.
But was not the young man to be equally pitied, if not more so? thought
she. Her father had surely ere this imparted to the lady the gratifying
news of her lover's recovery; whilst he, poor man, had not heard one
word from her for many days! Has he not been deprived of his senses
during nine whole days; and since their return been left in anxious
suspense on her account? These circumstances, therefore, left no doubt
upon her mind, of the reason why he cherished the scarf with such
tender regard, and convinced her from whose hands it came, at the same
time that it satisfied her why he constantly pressed it to his heart
and lips. Thinking to give him comfort, she determined to relate to him
what had passed on that night, when she overheard the conversation
between her father and the stranger.

Whilst Barbelle was occupied at her spinning wheel, Albert remarked
that she was not so cheerful as usual, that there was a cast of
seriousness on her countenance, which he had never observed before. Her
mind appeared occupied with a thought that distressed her; nay, he even
perceived a tear in her eye. He was so much struck by the change, as to
wish to know the cause of it. "What have you at heart, girl?" he asked,
just after her mother had left the room. "What makes you all at once so
silent and serious? you even moisten your thread with tears!"

"And can you be gay, sir?" asked Barbelle, and looked at him
inquisitively in the face. "I think I saw something once fall from your
eye also, which moistened that scarf. I am sure it was given you by
your love; and I was just thinking how much I grieved that you were not
by her side."

Albert was taken by surprise at this remark of his young friend, and
blushed deeply, which satisfied her she had made a better guess about