heek
became paler and paler; and that, despite an effort to seem calm,
the features moved with a slight jerking motion, her lip trembled
convulsively, and, with a low, sad sigh she fell back fainting.

[Illustration: The Lady of the Lake 300]

I sprang down the bank towards the lake, and in an Instant dipped my
shako in the water; and as I hastened back, she was sitting up, her eyes
staring madly 'round her, her look wild almost to insanity, while her
outstretched finger pointed to the copse of low beech near us.

"There, there! I saw him!" said she. "He was there now. Look! look!"

Shocked at the terrified expression of her features, and alarmed lest
ray story had conjured up before her disordered imagination the image of
her lost brother, I spoke to her in words of encouragement.

"No, no!" replied she to my words, "I saw him,--I heard his voice, too.
Let us leave this; bring me to the Trianon; and--"

The terrified and eager look she threw around at each word did not admit
of longer parley, and I drew her arm within mine to lead her forward.
"This is no fancy, as you deem it," said she, in a low and broken tone,
to which an accent of bitterness lent a terrible power; "nor could the
grave give up before me one so full of terror to my heart as him I saw
there."

Her head sank heavily as she uttered this; and, notwithstanding every
effort I made, she spoke no more, nor would give me any answer to my
questions regarding the cause of her fears.

As we walked forward we heard the sound of voices, which she at once
recognized as belonging to the Court party, and pressing my hand
slightly, she motioned me to leave her. I pressed the pale fingers to my
lips, and darted away, my every thought bent on discovering the cause of
her late fright.

In an instant I was back beside the lake. I searched every copse and
every brake; I wandered for hours through the dark woods; but nothing
could I see. I stooped to examine the ground, but could not even detect
the pressure of a footstep. The dried branches lay unbroken, and the
leaves unpressed around; and I at last became convinced that an excited
brain, and a mind harassed by a long sorrow, had conjured up the image
she spoke of. As I approached the picket, which was one of the most
remote in my rounds, I resolved to ask the sentry had he seen any one.

"Yes, Lieutenant," said the soldier; "a man passed some short time ago
in an undress uniform. He gave the word, and I let h