t, and wealth all together in a wife."

"You are a flatterer," the girl laughed; "but for all that I think
myself that Fritz is not unfortunate."

"And now tell me," Malcolm asked, "at what time is the sentry generally
changed?"

"At sunrise, at noon, at sunset, and at midnight," the girl replied;
"but what is that to you?"

"Never mind;" Malcolm laughed; "you know you don't want to be told what
I'm going to do. I will tell you if you like."

"No, no," the girl replied hurriedly. "I would rather be able to always
take my oath on the holy relics that I know nothing about it."

"Very well," Malcolm replied; "then this afternoon I will call."

Having hidden away under his doublet the suit of boy's clothes, and with
the tools of his trade in a small basket in his hand, Malcolm presented
himself at three o'clock in the afternoon to the sentry at the door
leading to the count's apartments. The soldier glanced at the pass and
permitted him to enter without remark.

The waiting maid met him inside and conducted him upstairs, and ushered
him into a spacious apartment, in which the count was lying on a couch,
while the countess and Thekla sat at work beside him. She then retired
and closed the door after her. The count and Thekla looked with surprise
at the young artisan, but the countess ran to meet him, and threw her
arms round his neck as if she had been his mother, while Thekla gave a
cry of delight as she recognized him.

"Welcome a thousand times! Welcome, my brave friend!" the countess
exclaimed. "What dangers must you not have encountered on your way
hither to us! The count and Thekla knew not that I had written to
you, for I feared a failure; and when I learned yesterday that you had
arrived I still kept silence, partly to give a joyful surprise to my
lord today, partly because, if the governor called, I was sure that this
child's telltale face would excite his suspicion that something unusual
had happened."

"How imprudent!" the count said, holding out his hand to Malcolm. "Had
I known that my wife was sending to you I would not have suffered her to
do so, for the risk is altogether too great, and yet, indeed, I am truly
glad to see you again."

Thekla gave Malcolm her hand, but said nothing. She had now reached an
age when girls feel a strange shyness in expressing their feelings; but
her hand trembled with pleasure as she placed it in Malcolm's, and her
cheek flushed hotly as, in accordance with the custo