gh said, "How far is it to Vienna,
Hanserl?"

"To Vienna, Fraeulein! It is a long journey,----more than four hundred
miles. But why do you ask?"

"I was thinking that if I saw Count Stephen--if I could but tell him our
sad story myself--he might intercede for poor Frank, and perhaps obtain
his freedom. His crime can scarcely be beyond the reach of mercy, and
his youth will plead for him. And is it so far away, Hanserl?"

"At the very least; and a costly journey, too."

"But I would go on foot, Hans. Lame as I am, I can walk for miles
without fatigue, and I feel as if the exertion would be a solace to me,
and that my mind, bent upon a good object, could the more easily turn
away from my own desolation. Oh, Hans, think me not selfish that I speak
thus; but thoughts of my own loneliness are so linked with all I have
lost, I cannot separate them. Even the humble duty that I filled gave a
value to my life, without which my worthlessness would have crushed
me; for what could poor lame Nelly be,--I, that had no buoyancy for the
young, no ripe judgment for the old? And yet, in caring for him that is
gone, I found a taste of love and happiness."

"I will go with you, Fraeulein; you shall not take this weary road alone.
Heaven knows that, without you, this place would be too dreary for me."

"But your house, Hanserl,--all that you possess,--the fruits of all your
hard industry--"

"Speak not of them," said Hans, reddening. "They who deem me rich are
mistaken. I have speculated ill, I have made bad ventures, and what I
have will but pay my debts, and I will be glad to quit this spot."

"And I," said Nelly, with a voice of deep emotion,--"I cannot say that I
can help you. I know nothing of what may remain to me in this world; my
father never spoke to me latterly of his means, and I may be, for aught
I know, a beggar. Will you see his banker and speak with him?"

"I have done so," said Hans, slowly. "He claims some small sum as due to
him."

"And how am I to pay it?" said Nelly, growing pale. "It is true, I can
labor--"

"Have no care for this, Fraeulein. It shall be looked to, and you shall
repay it hereafter."

"Oh, Hanserl, beware!" said she, solemnly; "we are an unfortunate
race to those who help us; my poor father often said so, and even his
superstitions are hallowed to me now."

A gesture from some one within the house called Hans away, and Nelly was
left alone. She sat with her eyes closed and her arms firmly