; he knew not or he would not say any thing. I believe your
family know where poor Moritz is, for your mother speaks of him as one
in the penitentiary, and quite triumphantly she told me yesterday that
the king, in his new book of laws, had expressly condemned the person
who elopes with a minor to be sent to the house of correction for ten
years, and then she laughed so cruelly, that I trembled to hear her."

As Trude related this, she searchingly glanced at Marie to observe the
effect of her words, hoping to see her weep or complain and that, at
last, grief would melt the icy crust around her heart.

But Marie sat motionless and without uttering a sound--not a sigh or a
moan escaped her. After a long silence, when her grief was too deep for
tears, she drew the handkerchief from her face, the pallor and rigidity
of which startled Trude.

She sprang forward, folding her in her arms. "Marie, child of my heart,
do weep, do complain! I know that he loved you dearly, and deserves that
you should mourn for him. Have you no more confidence, though, in your
old Trude? Is she no longer worthy to share your grief?"

Marie laid her languid head upon the bosom of her faithful nurse; a
long-drawn, piercing cry of anguish was her response, she trembled
violently, and the tears ran down her cheeks.

Trude raised her eyes to heaven, murmuring, "I thank thee, O Lord! Her
heart is not dead! It lives, for it suffers!"

"It suffers," groaned Marie, "the anguish of death."

This passionate outburst of feeling was of but short duration. Her tears
were dried, and her quivering face assumed its usually calm expression.

"Trude," said she, gently, continuing to repose upon her bosom, "I am
so wretched that words cannot express it or tears soothe it. If I should
give myself up to sorrow and mourning I should die, and that cannot be,
for I must live to wait for him--to rescue him. How I know not yet;
my thoughts and resolutions are so confused that they flicker like the
ignes fatui. I will force my mind to be calm, and these wandering lights
shall unite in one glowing flame to destroy the walls and obstructions
which confine him. He is a prisoner; I feel it in my heart, and I must
live to free him. This is my task, and I will accomplish it; therefore
I would be composed, and strong in myself. Wonder not that I weep or
complain no more, and do not refer to my misfortune. I should die if
I did not suppress this anguish, and I would become st