On a certain morning near the close of our sojourn in Basel, Max, after many elephantine manoeuvres, obtained Yolanda's promise to walk out with him to a near-by hill in the afternoon. It was a Sabbath day, and every burgher maiden in Basel that boasted a sweetheart would be abroad with him in the sunshine. Max could not help feeling that it was most condescending in him, a prince, to walk out with Yolanda, a burgher maiden. Should any one from Styria meet him, he would certainly sink into the ground, though in a certain way the girl's reluctance seemed to place the condescension with her. After dinner, which we all took together that day, she put him off with excuses until drowsy Uncle Castleman had taken himself off for a nap. Then Yolanda quickly said:-- "Fetch me my hood, Twonette. I shall not need a cloak. I am going to walk out with Sir Max." Twonette instantly obeyed, as if she were a tire-woman to a princess, and soon returned wearing her own hood and carrying Yolanda's. "Ah, but you are not to come with us," said Yolanda. She was ready to give Max the opportunity he desired, and would give it generously. "But--but what will father say?" asked Twonette, uneasily. "We shall learn what he says when we return. No need to worry about that now," answered Yolanda. Twonette took off her hood. Max and Yolanda climbed the hill, and, after a little demurring on the girl's part, sat down on a shelving rock at a point where the river view was beautiful. As usual, Yolanda managed the conversation to suit herself, but after a short time she permitted Max to introduce the subject on which he wished to talk. "Will you tell me, Fräulein," he asked, "how you were enabled to know the history of my ring? I cannot believe you are what you said--a sorceress--a witch." "No, no," she answered laughingly, "I am not a sorceress." "You almost made me believe you were," said Max, "but I am slow of wit, as you have doubtless observed. I told Sir Karl you said you were a sorceress, and he said--" "You gave me your word you would not tell!" exclaimed Yolanda. "Neither did I tell aught save that you said you were a sorceress. He laughed and said--" "Yes, yes, what did he say?" eagerly queried the girl. "He said--I am sure you will not take amiss what he said?" responded Max. "No, no, indeed no! Tell me," she demanded eagerly. "He said you were a witch, if brown eyes, dimpling smiles, and girlish beauty could make one," answered Max.