in which he was joined by the rest of the
men. "Young woman," he said to Bertha, "you may now with justice take
part in the jealousy of your husband; if you had seen what I just saw,
you might imagine and interpret all kind of things."

Bertha smiled, and, sympathising with Barbelle in her embarrassment,
felt how painful the taunts of the men must be to her. Whispering to
old Rosel, she told her to take the mother and daughter away. The
Duke's sharp eye remarked this also, which his merry mood attributed to
jealousy on the part of Bertha. She however unclasped a beautiful
cross, set in gold and red stones, which she wore on her neck, attached
to a chain, and presenting it to the astonished girl, said, "I thank
you with all my heart, my dear Barbelle, for your kindness to my
husband; remember me to your father, and come often to us here and in
Lichtenstein. What say you, would you like to be in my service? I would
endeavour to make you happy, and you would live with your aunt Rosel."

The girl was evidently perplexed at this unexpected proposal. She
appeared to combat her feelings, and an assent to it seemed to be
struggling through an innocent smile on her countenance, only to be
withdrawn again by some other contending feeling. "I thank you very
much, gracious lady," she at last uttered, and kissed Bertha's hand,
"but I must stay at home; my mother is getting old and wants my
assistance. May the Lord, with all his saints, watch over you, and the
holy Virgin be gracious to you! May you live in health and be happy
with your husband; he is a good, kind gentleman!" Bending down again to
kiss Bertha's hand, she then withdrew with her mother and aunt.

"Hearken," called the Duke after them, "if your mother ever consents to
give you a husband, bring him to me, and I'll fit you out, my pretty
fifer's child!"

By this time it was four o'clock, and the Duke rising from table was
the signal for the spectators to quit the galleries, which were
immediately furnished with cushions and carpets, and arranged for the
reception of the ladies. The tables were removed from the body of the
hall, when lances, swords, shields, helmets, and the whole apparatus
for tilting were brought in, converting this spacious apartment, which
had been but a moment before the scene of festive joy, into a place for
the exercise of manly games.

In the present day the education of the fair sex gives them a superior
claim to intellectual knowledge and ac