'When dead?' said Charlie, looking down on the sweet upturned face that lay on his shoulder; 'what _do_ you mean, Ernestine?' 'I scarcely know; but I should not fear _you_, love. I have some strange emotions in my heart this evening. I do not think even the grave would keep me from you; but would it keep you from me?' 'I fear it would, darling,' said he, with a half smile, though rather bewildered by all this; 'battle trenches are often pretty deep and full.' 'Oh, horror, Carl; don't talk of such an end as that!' He regarded her anxiously, fearing that sudden sorrow was affecting her mind. Again the voice of Heinrich was heard. She drew down the veil of her hat to conceal the redness of her eyes, and Charlie led her out to the britzka. All was over now, and they were separated till Fate or Chance should enable them to meet again. Those who saw Ernestine looking back from the britzka, and Charlie lift his hat more than once, as he walked slowly down the avenue that led to Aix, could little have imagined the strangely solemn betrothal that had just taken place between these two, in the little church of Burtscheid. CHAPTER X. TO THE RHINE! 'To Paris! To Paris! Hoch Germania!' Such were the cries that rang along the line of march, when on the 1st of August the various columns of the German army began to meet those which left Paris shouting 'To Berlin!' After detailing much that savours of what may seem romance, we have now to borrow a paragraph or two from the history of Europe. Perfect in organization, the forces which the Prussian Government were able to bring to the frontier a few days after the declaration of war against France were divided into three great armies, making a grand total of four hundred and twelve thousand infantry, and forty-seven thousand eight hundred cavalry, with one thousand four hundred and forty pieces of cannon. The first of these three armies was commanded by Major General Steinmetz, the second by Prince Frederick Charles, and the third by the Crown Prince--the whole being under the orders of the King of Prussia, assisted by General Count Von Moltke, a distinguished Dane, as chief of his staff. Strong reserves were posted at Hainau, Frankfort, at the old electoral city of Mayence, and amidst the vast defences of Coblentz between the Rhine and the Moselle. Another army defended the north, under Von Falkenstein; so taken altogether, including the Landwehr, Prussia, with her million and a quarter of well-drilled soldiery, seemed impregnable.