think of going now. It would not be proper for
me to travel alone with you in the dark. The people in Hardt are very
censorious, and they would certainly say some ill-natured thing of me
if----; better stay till to-morrow morning, when I will willingly go as
far as Pfullingen with you."

The young man respected her reasons, and replaced in silence the bridle
on the nail. It would certainly have been much more agreeable to him,
if the folks of Hardt had been less inclined to think evil of their
neighbours; but he could not do otherwise than meet the well-meant
scruples of Barbelle in their proper light. He therefore determined to
remain the night waiting the arrival of the fifer of Hardt; should he
not then come, he would mount his horse by daybreak, and set out for
Lichtenstein, under the conduct of his young friend.

CHAPTER XVI.

The whispering breezes fan the day,
And gently blow around;
With fragrance passing sweet they play,
And break with dulcet sound.
Now, my poor heart, be not oppress'd by fear,
Those breezes will a better fortune bear.
L. UHLAND.

But the fifer of Hardt did not return home that night; and as Albert
could no longer restrain his desire to prosecute his journey, he
saddled his horse at break of day. His good hostess, after no small
struggle, allowed her daughter to accompany him. She was afraid lest
such an extraordinary event should furnish conversation, perhaps not to
the credit of her child, for many an evening's gossip in the spinning
occupations of her neighbours, and therefore reluctantly gave her
consent. Upon the consideration, however, of the interest her husband
must have taken in the welfare of the young knight, having treated him
like a son in concealing him in his house, she thought she could not
well refuse him this last piece of service. She accordingly permitted
her daughter to go as his guide, upon the sole condition, that she was
to proceed a quarter of an hour's distance in advance, and wait for him
at a certain milestone.

Albert was affected in taking leave of the kind-hearted matron, who,
out of respect for him, had decked herself out in her best Sunday's
attire. He had placed a gold ducat in the carved chest, as a mark of
gratitude for the attention he had received from her; a considerable
present in thos