"And you tell me all this as if I did not know soldiers, who say the same thing to every pretty fraülein who binds up a scar, or is compelled to act hostess by a burgomaster's order. While Tilly and my father march on their troops to the conquest of Denmark, Gabrielle and I will reside here; and the count has desired me to say, that if ever you should find yourself a prisoner or a fugitive, friendless and in want of military employment, to communicate with him through the officer commanding any Austrian garrison, and he will not fail to succour and protect you. Here, at our new appanage, Gabrielle and I will remain until the war with Christian is over, and we return to Carlstein, or our new hotel near the Scots Gate at Vienna. At all events," she added, as she gave me her hand with that charming frankness which she inherited from her Scottish rather than her Spanish blood, "whatever the fortune of war may be, and though we may never meet again, you will ever be our friend." "Your friend, Ernestine! oh, I shall ever be more than that!" "Of course, are you not my enemy, and fighting against the great Catholic Empire? You must content you with being, if you can, my simple friend." "Ernestine," I began, taking her hand again---- "Nay, nay," she replied quickly, in a way that somewhat reminded me of my friend the actress; "do not look lacrymose and attempt to act the lover, for lovers quarrel many times, but friends seldom more than once. Besides, rumour says that Gabrielle and I have quite too many admirers already." There was more of Gabrielle's playfulness in this, than the queenlike manner usual to Ernestine. We gazed at each other timidly, and then smiled. "My old confessor, Father d'Eydel, of the order of Jesus, wrote a charming little book on love and friendship," said Ernestine; "and, moreover, he dedicated it to Gabrielle and me----" "I should like to know the Jesuit's ideas of love." "He said that one friend was worth an army of lovers; that love is like wine--bright, beautiful, and intoxicating; but friendship is like the inexhaustible water of a pure fountain--clear, cool, and refreshing; he said that love was all hot and heedless impulse, whereas friendship embraced the finest emotions of the heart and head." "You are quite a philosopher; and yet--ah! Ernestine--there is a merry twinkle in your beautiful eyes belying all you say." "Moreover, Father d'Eydel told me, at the Scots convent, I should have nothing to do with lovers----" "Father d'Eydel----" I began impatiently. Ernestine held up her pretty white hand. "He told me, love was like a two-edged sword----" "Did he not tell you it was like wine, but with water too?" "That it ennerved the hearts of the young, and failed to inspire the hearts of the old. To women, he recommended religion and the cloister----" "This devil of a d'Eydel would soon bring the world to an end! And to men----"