alk too much, she did not cease questioning or
recalling the time when she herself attended such festivals, and as one
of the fairest maidens received much homage.

It had been a good day, for it was long since she had enjoyed so much
quiet in her own home. The von Montforts, she told Eva, had set
off early, with a great train of knights and servants, to ride to
Radolzburg, the castle of the Burgrave von Zollern. Her father thought
they would probably have a dance there, for the young sons of the
Burgrave would act as hosts.

Eva asked carelessly who rode with Cordula this time to submit to her
whims, but Els perceived by her sister's flushed cheeks and the tone of
her voice what she desired to know, and answered as if by accident that
Sir Heinz Schorlin certainly was not one of her companions, for he had
ridden through the Frauenthor that afternoon in the train of the Emperor
Rudolph and his Bohemian daughter-in-law.

Twilight was already beginning to gather, and Els could not see whether
this news afforded Eva pleasure or annoyance, for her mother had taken
too little heed of her weakness, and one of the attacks which the
physician so urgently ordered her to avoid by caution commenced.

Els and the convent Sister Renata, who helped her nurse the invalid,
were now completely absorbed in caring for her, but Eva turned away from
the beloved sufferer--her sensitive nature could not endure the sight of
her convulsions.

As soon as her mother again lay weak but quiet on the pillows which Els
had rearranged for her, Eva obeyed her entreaty to go away, and went
to her own chamber. When another attack drew her back to the invalid,
a sign from her sister as she reached the threshold bade her keep away
from the couch. Should it prove necessary, she whispered, she would call
her. If Wolff came, Eva was to tell him that she could not leave her
mother, but he must be sure to return early the next morning, as she had
a great deal to say to him.

Eva then went to her father, who was dressing to attend a banquet at
the house of Herr Berthold Vorchtel, the first Losunger--[Presiding
Officer]--in the Council, from which he would be loath to absent himself
for the very reason that his host's family had been hostile to him ever
since the rumour of the betrothal of Wolff Eysvogel, whom the Vorchtels
had regarded as their daughter Ursula's future husband.

Nevertheless, Herr Ernst would not have gone to the entertainment had
his wif