d by a thick
roof of foliage, which, even in noonday, cast a deep shadow around, and
effectually screened it from the path that wound along beside it.

Scarcely had the bearers deposited the coffin beside the well, when the
sound of voices was heard as a considerable number of persons descended
the path. Words in French, German, and English showed that the party
consisted of representatives of these nations; but one voice, if once
heard not readily forgotten, towered high above all the rest.

"I cannot offer my arm, madam," cried a sharp, ringing accent, "as the
infernal road will not admit of two abreast; but I can go before and
pilot you."

"Oh, thanks, sir," replied a mild, meek tone; "I can get on very well
indeed. I am only uneasy about my sister."

"I don't suspect that she incurs either much risk or fatigue, madam,"
rejoined the other, "seeing that she is seated in an armchair, and
carried by two of the stoutest fellows in Baden."

"But the exertion, in her weak state--"

"She might make the ascent of Mont Blanc, madam, with the same
appliances; and if you only told her that there were bargains to be had
at the top, I verily believe she would do so."

"You don't think the things were cheap here, Colonel?" said Miss Martha,
who thought by a diversion to draw Haggerstone away from so dangerous a
discussion.

"I am no connoisseur in Dutch dolls, nor Noah's arks, madam, although
modern society presents us with something very like both; but I
concluded that the prices were not exorbitant. I went there myself from
a sense of equity. I once put a bullet into the little rascal's skin,
and I have bought a salad-fork and a nut-crackers in requital."

"It was kindly thought of," sighed Martha, gently.

"They only cost me nine kreutzers, madam," rejoined Haggerstone, who was
more afraid of being thought a dupe than ill-natured, "so that my
sense of generosity did not make a fool of me, as it did with the dwarf
himself."

"How so?"

"Why, in going security for that old Irishman, Dalton. It is to pay this
debt that he has been sold out to-day, and I fancy that Swiss cottages
and barking poodles will realize a very small dividend."

"Oh, Hanserl!" said Nelly, "what do I hear?"

"Hush, Fraeulein!" said he, with a gesture to enforce silence. "I will
tell you of these things hereafter."

And now the others passed, and were soon out of hearing.

"Oh, Hanserl!" cried Nelly, bitterly, "how misfortunes crowd upon m