u must
spare me the 'Jungfrau.' Nursing you will give me all the more pleasure
on account of the warm gratitude----"

"Never mind that," interrupted Cordula. "But please look at the bandage,
beneath which the flesh burns and aches more than is necessary, and then
go on with your explanation."

Els examined the countess's arm, and then applied a household remedy
whose use she had learned from the wife of Herr Pfinzing, her Aunt
Christine, who was familiar with the healing art. It relieved the pain,
and when Cordula told her so, Els went on with her explanation.
"When all these blows fell upon me, they at first seemed, indeed,
unprecedented and scarcely possible to endure. When afterwards my
Wolff's unhappy deed was added, I felt as though I were standing in a
dense, dark mist, where each step forwards must lead me into a stifling
morass or over a precipice. Then I began to reflect upon what had
happened, as is my custom; I separated, in my thoughts, the evil
menacing in the future from the good, and had scarcely made a little
progress in this way when morass and abyss lost their terrors; both, I
found, could be left to take care of themselves, since neither Wolff nor
I lack love and good will, and we possess some degree of prudence and
caution."

"Yes, this thinking and considering!" cried the countess, with a faint
sigh. "It succeeds in my case, too, only, unluckily, I usually don't
begin until it is too late and the folly has been committed."

"Then, henceforth, you must reverse the process," answered Els cheerily.
But directly after she changed her tone, which sounded serious enough as
she added: "The sorrow of the poor Vorchtels and the grief my betrothed
husband must endure, because the dead man was once a dear friend,
certainly casts a dark shadow upon many things; but you, who love the
chase, must surely be familiar with the misty autumn mornings to which
I allude. Everything, far and near, is covered by a thick veil, yet
one feels that there is bright sunshine behind it. Suddenly the mist
scatters----"

"And mountain and forest, land and water, lie before us in the radiant
sunlight!" cried the countess. "How well I know such scenes! And how I
should rejoice if a favourable wind would sweep the grey mist away for
you right speedily! Only--indeed, I am not disposed to look on the dark
side--only, perhaps you do not know how resolute the Emperor is that the
peace of the country shall be maintained. If your lov