er shame that I felt for myself gave me back complete
self-control. I pulled myself together with an effort: I told her my
name with a courteous bow, and explained the commission which I was
entrusted with for the Geheime Rath. On this Pauline cried, loudly and
joyfully:

"'"Oh, how delightful! News of my cousin? You have met him: you know
him; you've spoken to him? I don't believe his letters. He always says
he's almost well. Do, please, let me know the worst. He'll be lame for
life, won't he, poor fellow?"'

"'I assured her, as I was quite justified in doing, that the
bullet-wound which had nearly fractured his kneecap, though it certainly
had been dangerous at one time, and though amputation had been talked of,
was now so very much better that there was no more danger, and that, as
he was a fine healthy young fellow, there was every prospect of his
soon being able to leave off his crutches, which he had been obliged to
use for a month or two.

"'As I got more accustomed to be actually looking at Pauline, to see
her eyes, to be under the magic spell of her presence, and having got a
little of my confidence back, from talking about these matters of fact,
I took heart of grace, and told her all about the action where her
cousin got wounded. We had both been in this action together, serving
in the same battalion, as it happened. You know how one manages, in
such a case, to give a pretty graphic and vivid account of things, and,
indeed, is rather apt to get--more than is quite called for--into that
emphatic and picturesque "manner" which never fails in its effect upon
young women. Of course you will understand that I didn't dwell so much
upon the disposition of the troops, the plan of attack, the "general
idea" of the operations, the feigned attacks, masked batteries,
debouching and development of the cavalry arm, etc., etc., as upon the
minor incidents of a more personal kind, which are what really interest
friends at home. Many an incident which I scarcely noticed when it
happened put on quite an interesting and affecting appearance when I
was telling her about it; and thus it came about that Pauline was
sometimes pale from sorrow and alarm, and at other times smiling gently
through her tears.

"'"Ah!" she said, "when I came in just now, and you were standing so
still and so thoughtfully, looking at that picture of a battle, it must
have been recalling some painful memory to your mind."

"'A red-hot dart seemed to