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property existed than in most other parts of Germany. The ravages made
by war were speedily effaced, and although the peasants carried on their
operations in the fields without any surety as to who would gather the
crops, they worked free from the harassing tyranny of the petty bands of
robbers.

As soon as he was strong enough Malcolm rode with the count on his
visits to the different parts of his estates, joined in several parties
got up to hunt the boar in the hills, or to make war on a small scale
against the wolves which, since the outbreak of the troubles, had vastly
increased in number, committing great depredations upon the flocks and
herds, and rendering it dangerous for the peasants to move between their
villages except in strong parties.

The evenings were passed pleasantly and quietly. The countess would
read aloud or would play on the zither, with which instrument she would
accompany herself while she sang. Thekla would sit at her embroidery and
would chat merrily to Malcolm, and ask many questions about Scotland
and the life which the ladies led in that, as she asserted, "cold and
desolate country." Sometimes the count's chaplain would be present and
would gravely discuss theological questions with the count, wearying
Malcolm and Thekla so excessively, that they would slip away from the
others and play checkers or cards on a little table in a deep oriel
window where their low talk and laughter did not disturb the discussions
of their elders.

Once Malcolm was absent for two days on a visit to the village in
the mountains he had so much aided in defending. Here he was joyfully
received, and was glad to find that war had not penetrated to the quiet
valley, and that prosperity still reigned there. Malcolm lingered at
Mansfeld for some time after he felt that his strength was sufficiently
restored to enable him to rejoin his regiment; but he knew that until
the spring commenced no great movement of troops would take place, and
he was so happy with his kind friends, who treated him completely as one
of the family, that he was loath indeed to tear himself away. At last
he felt that he could no longer delay, and neither the assurances of the
count that the Protestant cause could dispense with his doughty services
for a few weeks longer, or the tears of Thekla and her insistance that
he could not care for them or he would not be in such a hurry to leave,
could detain him longer, and mounting a horse with whi