work of an
accomplished artist. He would have continued gazing much longer at this
remarkable curiosity had not the voice desired him to turn round and
look at the crystal coffin which stood opposite.

What was his amazement at seeing a girl of surpassing loveliness lying
in it! She lay as though sleeping, and her long, fair hair seemed to
wrap her round like some costly mantle. Her eyes were closed, but the
bright colour in her face, and the movement of a ribbon, which rose and
fell with her breath, left no doubt as to her being alive.

As the tailor stood gazing at her with a beating heart, the maiden
suddenly opened her eyes, and started with delighted surprise.

'Great heavens!' she cried, 'my deliverance approaches! Quick, quick,
help me out of my prison; only push back the bolt of this coffin and I
am free.'

The tailor promptly obeyed, when she quickly pushed back the crystal
lid, stepped out of the coffin and hurried to a corner of the hall, when
she proceeded to wrap herself in a large cloak. Then she sat down on a
stone, desired the young man to come near, and, giving him an
affectionate kiss, she said, 'My long-hoped-for deliverer, kind heaven
has led you to me, and has at length put an end to all my sufferings.
You are my destined husband, and, beloved by me, and endowed with every
kind of riches and power, you shall spend the remainder of your life in
peace and happiness. Now sit down and hear my story. I am the daughter
of a wealthy nobleman. My parents died when I was very young, and they
left me to the care of my eldest brother, by whom I was carefully
educated. We loved each other so tenderly, and our tastes and interests
were so much alike that we determined never to marry, but to spend our
entire lives together. There was no lack of society at our home. Friends
and neighbours paid us frequent visits, and we kept open house for all.
Thus it happened that one evening a stranger rode up to the castle and
asked for hospitality, as he could not reach the nearest town that
night. We granted his request with ready courtesy, and during supper he
entertained us with most agreeable conversation, mingled with amusing
anecdotes. My brother took such a fancy to him that he pressed him to
spend a couple of days with us, which, after a little hesitation, the
stranger consented to do. We rose late from table, and whilst my brother
was showing our guest to his room I hurried to mine, for I was very
tired and longe