'I do not jest; but have come, in defiance of all family views and prejudices, to cheer you, and have some conversation over this wretched affair. Poor Ernestine! I wish you and she had taken me into your confidence. By our past and present friendship, I surely merited that from you, at least.' 'A bottle of wine, Heinrich? 'Thanks--I have just galloped in from the Schloss, and had some difficulty in finding your quarters.' 'There are cigars, and here is an easy-chair. I am thankful you did not come on a hostile visit. To decline would have been disgraceful, to accept might have been fratricide; but I should have fired in the air.' 'What stuff you are talking!' said Heinrich, as he manipulated and lit a cigar, while the waiter was pouring out the wine. 'Now let us talk,' said he, when the latter had withdrawn. 'And how are the ladies this evening?' asked Charlie, trying, with a swelling heart, to talk common sense. 'As you may suppose, the Grafine, my mother, is in a furious pet; and I knew nothing about your sudden departure till I found your place vacant at the breakfast table.' 'And--and your sister, Heinrich?' 'Has been all day fretting in her room.' 'And the Grafine Herminia?' 'With her. I saw Herminia for a little time to-day, and she desired me to assure you of her fullest sympathy.' 'God bless her!' exclaimed he, whilst his eyes became moist. 'The poor little thing endured too much, when she believed me to be Herr Mansfeld, and knew me not in my proper person, to be without due sympathy for all afflicted lovers.' 'You do not speak of the Herr Graf.' 'Oh, he is inexorable!' 'And our infernal Baron--no doubt he was at Frankenburg to-day, hoping to play the lover,' said Charlie viciously. 'He was not.' 'How so?' 'His Excellency has a violent fit of the gout!' 'Long may it continue!' said Charlie fervently. 'Amen!' added Heinrich, lying back in his chair and laughing heartily; 'the idea of an adoring swain having an ailment so unromantic! And now for the object of my visit. I have simply come to apologize for all that has occurred at the Schloss; but I might have foreseen it, had my own affairs not occupied too much of my attention. Ernestine is too enchanting a girl to have failed to attract. What is done cannot be undone. I do love you, Carl, and deplore all that has taken place.' The two friends shook hands warmly. With Charlie, his comrade, brother officer, and most particular 'chum,' was now the link between him and Ernestine--between him and Frankenburg--the Eden from which he had been banished, and without his Eve. How he loved the generous fellow! How gladly he would lay down his life for him; but in doing so, he would leave Ernestine, and, perhaps, to another. Another? Oh! that was not to be thought of! Heinrich began again--