 Chapter III of Anne of Geyerstein, Volume II, by Sir Walter Scott. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Dion Giants, Celtic City, Utah. Away with these, true wisdom's world will be within its own creation, or in thine maternal nature, for who teams like thee, thus on the banks of thy majestic rine, there herald gazes on a work divine, a blending of all beauties, streams and delves, fruit, foliage, crag, wood, cornfield, mountain, vine, and chiefless castles, breathing stern farewells, from gray but leafy walls, where ruin greenly dwells, child heralds, pilgrimage, canto. When Arthur Phillipson left his father to go on board the bark, which was to waft him across the rine, he took but few precautions for his own subsistence, during a separation of which he calculated the duration to be very brief. Some necessary change of raiment, and a very few pieces of gold, were all which he thought it needful to withdraw from the general stock. The rest of the baggage and money he left with the Sumter Horse, which he concluded his father might need, in order to sustain his character as an English traitor. Having embarked with his horse and his slender appointments on board a fishing skiff, she instantly raised her temporary mast, spread a sail across the yard, and supported by the force of the wind against the downward power of the current, moved across the river obliquely in the direction of Kirchhoff, which, as we have said, lies somewhat lower on the river than Hans Kappel. Their passage was so favorable that they reached the opposite side in a few minutes, but not until Arthur, whose eye and thoughts were on the left bank, had seen his father depart from the chapel of the ferry accompanied by two horsemen whom he readily concluded to be the guide Bartholomew and some chance traveller who had joined him, but the second of whom was in truth the black priest of St. Paul's, as has been already mentioned. This augmentation of his father's company was, he could not but think, likely to be attended with an increase of his safety, since it was not probable he would suffer a companion to be forced upon him, and one of his own choosing might be a protection, in case his guide should prove treacherous. At any rate, he had to rejoice that he had seen his father depart in safety from the spot where they had reason to apprehend some danger awaited him. He resolved therefore to make no stay at Kirchhoff but to pursue his way as fast as possible towards Strasburg and rest when darkness compelled him to stop in one of the dwarfs or villages which were situated on the German side of the Rhine. At Strasburg he trusted with the sanguine spirit of youth he might again be able to rejoin his father and if he could not altogether subdue his anxiety on their separation he fondly nourished the hope that he might meet him in safety. After some short refreshment and repose afforded to his horse he lost no time in proceeding on his journey down the eastern bank of the Broad River. He was now upon the most interesting side of the Rhine walled in and repelled as the river is on that shore by the most romantic cliffs now mantled with vegetation of the richest hue tinged with all the variegated colors of autumn now surmounted by fortresses over whose gates were displayed the penins of their proud owners or studded with hamlets where the richness of the soil supplied to the poor laborer the food of which the oppressive hand of his superior threatened altogether to deprive him. Every stream which here contributes its waters to the Rhine winds through its own tributary dell and each valley possesses a varying and separate character some rich with pastures cornfields and vineyards some frowning with crags and precipices and other romantic beauties the principles of taste were not then explained or analyzed as they have been since in countries where leisure has been found for this investigation but the feelings arising from so rich a landscape as is displayed by the valley of the Rhine must have been the same in every bosom from the period when our Englishman took his solitary journey through it in doubt and danger till that in which it heard the indignant child Harold bid a proud farewell to his native country in the vain search of a land in which his heart might throb less fiercely. Here enjoyed this scene although the fading daylight began to remind him that alone as he was and traveling with a very valuable charge it would be matter of prudence to look out for some place of rest during the night just as he had formed the resolution of inquiring at the next habitation he should pass which way he should follow for this purpose the road he pursued descended into a beautiful amphitheater filled with large trees which protected from the heats of summer the delicate and tender herbage of the pasture a large brook flowed through it and joined the Rhine at a short mile up the brook its waters made a crescent round a steep craggy eminence crowned with flanking walls and gothic towers and turrets enclosing a feudal castle of the first order a part of the savannah that has been mentioned had been irregularly cultivated for wheat which had grown a plentiful crop it was gathered in but the patches of deep yellow stubble contrasted with the green of the undisturbed pasture land and with the seared and dark red foliage of the broad oaks which stretched their arms of thwart the level space there a lad in a rustic dress was employed in the task of netting a brood of partridges with the assistance of a trained spaniel while a young woman who had the air rather of a domestic in some family of rank than that of an ordinary villager sat on the stump of a decayed tree to watch the progress of the amusement the spaniel whose duty it was to drive the partridges under the net was perceptibly disturbed at the approach of the traveler his attention was divided and he was obviously in danger of marring the sport by barking and putting up the covey when the maiden quitted her seat and advancing towards phillips and requested him for courtesy to pass at a greater distance and not interfere with their amusement the traveler willingly complied with her request i will ride fair damsel he said at whatever distance you please and allow me in gordon to ask whether there is convent castle or good man's house where a stranger who is belated and weary might receive a knight's hospitality the girl whose face he had not yet distinctly seen seemed to suppress some desire to laugh as she replied hath not young castle think you pointing to the distant towers some corner which might accommodate a stranger in such extremity space enough certainly said arthur but perhaps little inclination to grant it i myself said the girl being one and a formidable part of the garrison will be answerable for your reception but as you partly with me in such hostile fashion it is according to marshal order that i should put down my visor so saying she concealed her face under one of those writing masks which at that period women often wore when they went abroad whether for protecting their complexion or screening themselves from intrusive observation but ere she could accomplish this operation arthur had detected the merry countenance of annette vilchin a girl who though her attendance on an of geierstein was in a menial capacity was held in high esteem at geierstein she was a bold wench unaccustomed to the distinctions of rank which were little regarded in the simplicity of the helvedian hills and she was ready to laugh just and flirt with the young men of the landman's family this attracted no attention the mountain manners making little distinction between the degrees of attendant and mistress further than that the mistress was a young woman who required help and the maiden one who was in a situation to offer and afford it this kind of familiarity would perhaps have been dangerous in other lands but the simplicity of swiss manners and the turn of annette's disposition which was resolute and sensible though rather bold and free when compared to the manners of more civilized countries kept all intercourse betwixt her and the young men of the family in the strict path of honor and innocence arthur himself had paid considerable attention to annette being naturally from his feelings towards and of geierstein heartily desirous to possess the good graces of her attendant a point which was easily gained by the attentions of a handsome young man and the generosity with which he heaped upon her small presence of articles of dress or ornament which the damsel however faithful could find no heart to refuse the assurance that he was in annes neighborhood and that he was likely to pass the night under the same roof both of which circumstances were intimated by the girl's presence and language sent the blood in a hastier current through arthur's veins for though since he had crossed the river he had sometimes nourished hopes of again seeing her who had made so strong an impression on his imagination yet his understanding had as often told him how slight was the chance of their meeting and it was even now chilled by the reflection that it could be followed only by the pain of a sudden and final separation he yielded himself however to the prospect of promised pleasure without attempting to ascertain what was to be its duration or its consequence desirous in the meantime to hear as much of annes circumstances as annette chose to tell he resolved not to let that mary maiden perceive that she was known by him until she chose of her own accord to lay aside her mystery while these thoughts passed rapidly through his imagination annette bade the lad drop his nets and directed him that having taken two of the best fed partridges from the covey and carried them into the kitchen he was to set the rest at liberty i must provide supper said she to the traveler since i am bringing home unexpected company arthur earnestly expressed his hope that his experiencing the hospitality of the castle would occasion no trouble to the inmates and received satisfactory assurances upon the subject of his scruples i would not willingly be the cause of inconvenience to your mistress pursued the traveler look you there said annette velchin i have said nothing of master or mistress and this poor forlorn traveler has already concluded in his own mind that he is to be harbored in a lady's bower why did you not tell me said arthur somewhat confused at his blunder that you were the person of second importance in the place a damsel i judged could only be an officer under a female governor i do not see the justice of the conclusion replied the maiden i have known ladies bear offices of trust in lord's families nay and over the lords themselves am i to understand fair damsel that you hold so predominant a situation in the castle which we are now approaching and of which i pray you to tell me the name the name of the castle is arnheim said annette your garrison must be a large one said arthur looking at the extensive building if you are able to man such a labyrinth of walls and towers in that point said annette i must needs own we are very deficient at present we rather hide in the castle than inhabit it and yet it is well enough defended by the reports which frighten every other person who might disturb its seclusion and yet you yourselves dare to reside in it said the englishman recollecting the tale which had been told by rudolf donner hugel concerning the character of the barons of arnheim and the final catastrophe of the family perhaps replied his guide we are too intimate with the cause of such fears to feel ourselves strongly oppressed with them perhaps we have means of encountering the supposed terrors proper to ourselves perhaps and it is not the least likely conjecture we have no choice of a better place of refuge such seems to be your own fate at present sir for the tops of the distant hills are gradually losing the lights of the evening and if you rest not in arnheim well contented or not you are likely to find no safe lodging for many a mile as she thus spoke she separated from arthur taking with the fowler who attended her a very steep but short footpath which ascended straight up to the site of the castle at the same time motioning to the young englishman to follow a horse track which more circuitous led to the same point and though less direct was considerably more easy he soon stood before the south front of arnheim castle which was a much larger building than he had conceived either from rudolf's description or from the distant view it had been erected at many different periods and a considerable part of the edifice was less in the strict gothic than in what has been termed the serocenic style in which the imagination of the architect is more florid than that which is usually indulged in the north rich in minarets capolas and similar approximations to oriental structures this singular building for a general appearance of desolation and desertion but rudolf had been misinformed when he declared that it had become ruinous on the contrary it had been maintained with considerable care and when it fell into the hands of the emperor although no garrison was maintained within its precincts care was taken to keep the building in repair and though the prejudices of the country people prevented anyone from passing the night within the fearful walls yet it was regularly visited from time to time by a person having commission from the imperial chancery to that effect the occupation of the domain around the castle was a valuable compensation for this official person's labor and he took care not to endanger the loss of it by neglecting his duty of late this officer had been withdrawn and now it appeared that the young baroness of arnheim had found refuge in the deserted towers of her ancestors the swiss damsel did not leave the youthful traveler time to study particularly the exterior of the castle or to construe the meaning of emblems and mottos seemingly of an oriental character with which the outside was inscribed and which expressed in various modes more or less directly the attachment of the builders of this extensive pile to the learning of the eastern sages ere he had time to take more than a general survey of the place the voice of the swiss maiden called him to an angle of the wall in which there was a projection once a long plank extended over a dry moat and was connected with a window in which annette was standing you have forgotten your swiss lessons already said she observing that arthur went rather timidly about crossing the temporary and precarious drawbridge the reflection that ann her mistress might make the same observation recalled the young traveler to the necessary degree of composure he passed over the plank with the same sang froid with which he had learned to brave the far more terrific bridge beneath the ruinous castle of geierstein he had no sonar entered the window then annette taking off her mask bade him welcome to germany and two old friends with new names and of geierstein she said is no more but you will presently see the lady baroness of arnhem who is extremely like her and i who was annette velchin in switzerland the servant to a damsel who was not esteemed much greater than myself and now the young baroness's waiting woman and make everybody of less quality stand back if in such circumstances said young philipson you have the influence due to your consequence let me beseech of you to tell the baroness since we must now call her so that my present intrusion on her is occasioned by my ignorance away away said the girl laughing i know better what to say in your behalf you are not the first poor man and peddler that has got the graces of a great lady but i warrant you it was not by making humble apologies and talking of unintentional intrusion i will tell her of love which all the rine cannot quench and which has driven you hither leaving you no other choice than to come or to perish nay but annette annette fie on you for a fool make a shorter name of it cry ann ann and there will be more prospect of your being answered so saying the wild girl ran out of the room delighted as a mountaineer of her description was likely to be with the thought of having done as she would desire to be done by in her benevolent exertions to bring two lovers together when on the eve of inevitable separation in this self-approving disposition annette sped up a narrow turnpike stair to a closet or dressing room where her young mistress was seated and exclaimed with open mouth ann of guy i mean my lady berenice they are come they are come the philipsons said ann almost breathless as she asked the question yes no answered the girl that is yes for the best of them is come and that is arthur what meanest thou girl is not signor philipson the father along with his son not he indeed answered belchin nor did i ever think of asking about him he was no friend of mine nor of anyone else save the old landman and well met they were for a couple of wise acres with eternal proverbs in their mouths and care upon their brows unkind inconsiderate girl what has thou done said ann of geierstein did i not warn and charge the to bring them both hither and you have brought the young man alone to a place where we are nearly in solitude what will he what can he think of me why what should i have done said annette remaining firm in her argument he was alone and should i have sent him down to the dwarf to be murdered by the rine graves lawnsneaks all is fish i throw that comes to their net and how is he to get through this country so beset with wandering soldiers robber barons i beg your ladyships pardon and roguish italians flocking to the duke of burgundy's standard not to mention the greatest terror of all that is never in one shape or another absent from one's eye or thought hush hush girl add not utter madness to the excess of folly but let us think what is to be done for our sake for his own this unfortunate man must leave this castle instantly you must take the message yourself then and i beg pardon most noble baroness it may be very fit for a lady of high birth to send such a message which indeed i have heard the men singers tell in their romances but i am sure it is not a meat one for me or any frank hearted swiss girl to carry no more foolery but remember if you were born baroness of arnheim you have been bred and brought up in the bosom of the swiss hills and should conduct yourself like an honest and well-meaning damsel and in what does your wisdom represent my folly good mademoiselle annette replied the baroness i marry now our noble blood stirs in our veins but remember gentle my lady that it was a bargain between us when i left yonder noble mountains and the free air that blows over them to coop myself up in this land of prisons and slaves that i should speak my mind to you as freely as i did when our heads lay on the same pillow speak then said ann studiously averting her face as she prepared to listen but beware that you say nothing which is unfit for me to hear i will speak nature and common sense and if your noble ears are not made fit to hear and understand these the fault lies in them and not in my tongue look you you have saved this youth from two great dangers one at the earth chute at geierstein the other this very day when his life was beset a handsome young man he is well spoken and well qualified to gain deservedly a lady's favor before you saw him the swiss youth were at least not odious to you you danced with them you justed with them you were the general object of their admiration and as you well know you might have had your choice through the canton why i think it possible a little urgency might have brought you to think of rudolf donner hugel as your mate never wench never exclaimed an be not so very positive my lady had he recommended himself to the uncle in the first place i think in my poor sentiment he might at some lucky moment have carried the niece but since we have known this young englishman it has been little less than condemning despising and something like hating all the men whom you could endure well enough before well well said an i will detest and hate the more than any of them unless you bring your matters to an end softly noble lady fair and easy go far all this argues you love the young man and let those say that you are wrong who think there is anything wonderful in the matter there is much to justify you and nothing that i know against it what foolish girl remember my birth forbids me to love a mean man my condition to love a poor man my father's commands to love one whose addresses are without his consent and above all my maiden ly pride forbids me fixing my affections on one who cares not for me nay perhaps is prejudiced against me by appearances here is a fine homily said annette but i can clear every point of it as easily as father frances does his text in a holiday sermon your birth is a silly dream which you have only learned to value within these last two or three days when having come to german soil some of the old german weed usually called family pride has begun to germinate in your heart think of such folly as you thought when you lived at geierstein that is during all the rational part of your life and this great terrible prejudice will sink into nothing by condition i conceive you mean a state but phillips's father who is the most free hearted of men will surely give his son as many seconds as will stalk a mountain farm you have firewood for the cutting and land for the occupying since you are surely entitled to part of geierstein and gladly will your uncle put you in possession of it you can manage the dairy arthur can shoot hunt fish plow harrow and reap ann of geierstein shook her head as if she greatly doubted her lover's skill in the last of the accomplishments enumerated well well he can learn then said annette velchin and you will only live the harder the first year or so besides sigism and beaterman will aid him willingly and he is a very horse at labor and i know another besides who is a friend of thine own i warrant quote the young baroness mary it is my poor friend louis springer and i'll never be so false hearted as to deny my bachelor well well but what is to be the end of all this said the baroness impatiently the end of it in my opinion said annette is very simple here are priests and prayer books within a mile go down to the parlor speak your mind to your lover or hear him speak his mind to you join hands go quietly back to geierstein in the character of man and wife and get everything ready to receive your uncle on his return this is the way that a plain swiss wench would cut off the romance of a german baroness and break the heart of her father said the young lady with a sigh it is more tough than you are aware of replied annette he hath not lived without you so long but that he will be able to spare you for the rest of his life a great deal more easily than you with all your new fangled ideas of quality will be able to endure his schemes of wealth and ambition which will aim at making you the wife of some illustrious count like the hagenbach whom we saw not long since make such an edifying and to the great example of all robber chivalry upon the rine thy plan is not wench a childish vision of a girl who never knew more of life than she has heard told over her milking pail remember that my uncle entertains the highest ideas of family discipline and that to act contrary to my father's will would destroy us in his good opinion why else am i here wherefore has he resigned his guardianship and why am i obliged to change the habits that are dear to me and assume the manners of a people that are strange and therefore unpleasing to me your uncle said annette firmly is landman of the canton of underwalden respects its freedom and is the sworn protector of its laws of which when you a denison of the confederacy claim the protection he cannot refuse it to you even then said the young baroness i should forfeit his good opinion his more than paternal affection but it is needless to dwell upon this know that although i could have loved the young man whom i will not deny to be as amiable as your partiality paints him no she hesitated for a moment that he has never spoken a word to me on such a subject as you without knowing either his sentiments or mine would intrude on my consideration is it possible answered annette i thought i believed though i have never pressed on your confidence that you must attached as you were to each other have spoken together like true maid and true bachelor before now i have done wrong when i thought to do for the best is it possible such things have been heard of even in our canton is it possible he can have harbored so unutterably base purposes as that martin of brissock who made love to adela of the sun god enticed her to folly the thing though almost incredible is true fled fled from the country and boasted of his villainy till her cousin raiment silenced forever his infamous triumph by beating his brains out with his club even in the very street of the villain's native town by the holy mother of ensedlin could i suspect this englishman of meditating such treason i would saw the plank across the moat till a fly's weight would break it and it should be at six fathom deep that he would abide the profidity which dared to meditate dishonor against an adopted daughter of switzerland as annette velchin spoke all the fire of her mountain courage flashed from her eyes and she listened reluctantly while an of geierstein endeavored to obliterate the dangerous impression which her former words had impressed on her simple but faithful attendant on my word she said on my soul you do arthur phillips an injustice foul injustice in intimating such a suspicion his conduct towards me has ever been upright and honorable a friend to a friend a brother to a sister could not in all he has done and said have been more respectful more anxiously affectionate more undeviatingly candid in our frequent interviews and intercourse he has indeed seemed very kind very attached but had i been disposed at times i may have been too much so to listen to him with endurance the young lady here put her hands on her forehead but the tears streamed through her slender fingers he has never spoken of any love any preference if he indeed entertains any some obstacle insurmountable on his part has interfered to prevent him obstacle replied the swiss damsel i doubtless some childish bashfulness some foolish idea about your birth being so high above his own some dream of modesty pushed to extremity which considers as impenetrable the ice of a spring frost this delusion may be broken by a moment's encouragement and i will take the task on myself to spare your blushes my dearest an no no for heaven's sake no velchin answered the baroness to whom annette had so long been a companion and confident rather than a domestic you cannot anticipate the nature of the obstacles which may prevent his thinking on what you are so desirous to promote hear me my early education and the instructions of my kind uncle have taught me to know something more of foreigners and their fashions than i ever could have learned in our happy retirement of geierstein i am well now convinced that these philipsons are of rank as they are of manners and bearing far superior to the occupation which they appear to hold the father is a man of deep observation of high thought and pretension and lavish of gifts far beyond what consists with the utmost liberality of a traitor that is true said annette i will say for myself that the silver chain he gave me weighs against ten silver crowns and the cross which arthur added to it the day after the long ride we had together up towards mount pilatus is worth they tell me as much more there is not the like of it in the cantons well what then they are rich so are you so much the better alas annette they are not only rich but noble i am persuaded of this for i have observed often that even the father retreated with an air of quiet and dignified contempt from discussions with donner hugel and others who in our plain way wished to fashion a dispute upon him and when a rude observation or blunt pleasantry was pointed at the son his eye flashed his cheek colored and it was only a glance from his father which induced him to repress the retort of no friendly character which rose to his lips you have been a close observer said annette all this may be true but i noted it not but what then i say once more if arthur has some fine noble name in his own country are not you yourself baroness of arnhem and i will frankly allow it as something of worth if it smooths the way to a match where i think you must look for happiness i hope so else i am sure it should have no encouragement from me i do believe so my faithful velchen but alas how can you in the state of natural freedom in which you have been bred no or even dream of the various restraints which this gilded or golden chain of rank and nobility hangs upon those whom it fetters and encumbers i fear as much as it decorates in every country the distinction of rank binds men to certain duties it may carry with it restrictions which may prevent alliances in foreign countries it often may prevent them from consulting their inclinations when they wed in their own it leads to alliances in which the heart is never consulted to treaties of marriage which are often formed when the parties are in the cradle or in leading strings but which are not the last binding on them in honor and faith such may exist in the present case these alliances are often blended and mixed up with state policy and if the interest of england or what he deems such should have occasioned the elder philipson to form such an engagement arthur would break his own heart the heart of anyone else rather than make faults his father's word the more shame to them that formed such an engagement said annette well they talk of england being a free country but if they can bar young men and women of the natural privilege to call their hands and hearts their own i would as soon be a german serf well lady you are wise and i am ignorant but what is to be done i have brought this young man here expecting god knows a happier issue to your meeting but it is clear you cannot marry him without his asking you now although i confess that if i could think him willing to forfeit the hand of the fairest maid of the cantons either from want of manly courage to ask it or from regard to some ridiculous engagement formed betwixt his father and some other noblemen of their island of noblemen i would not in either case grudge him a ducking in the moat yet it is another question whether we should send him down to be murdered among those cutthroats of the rine grave and unless we do so i know not how to get rid of him then let the boy william give attendance on him here and do you see to his accommodation it is best we do not meet i will set a net yet what am i to say for you unhappily i let him know that you were here a last imprudent girl yet why should i blame thee said an of geierstein when the imprudence has been so great on my own side it is myself who's suffering my imagination to rest too long upon this young man and his merits have led me into this entanglement but i will show thee that i can overcome this folly and i will not seek in my own error a cause for evading the duties of hospitality go velchin get some refreshment ready thou shalt sup with us and thou must not leave us thou shalt see me behave as becomes both a german lady and a swiss maiden get me first a candle however my girl for i must wash these tell tales my eyes and arrange my dress to a net this whole explanation had been one scene of astonishment for in the simple ideas of love and courtship in which she had been brought up amid the swiss mountains she had expected that the two lovers would have taken the first opportunity of the absence of their natural guardians and have united themselves forever and she had even arranged a little secondary plot in which she herself and martin springer her faithful bachelor were to reside with the young couple as friends and dependents silenced therefore but not satisfied by the objections of her young mistress the zealous and net retreated murmuring to herself that little hint about her dress is the only natural and sensible word she had said in my hearing please god i will return and help her in the twinkling of an eye that dressing my mistress is the only part of a waiting lady's life that i have the least fancy for it seems so natural for one pretty maiden to set off another in faith we are but learning to dress ourselves at another time and with this sage remark and that velchen tripped downstairs end of chapter three chapter four of an of geierstein volume two by sir walter scott this lipovox recording is in the public domain recording by dion selic city utah tell me not of it i could never abide the memory of all that forced civility pray seat yourself my lord with cringing hams the speech is spoken and with bended knee heard by the smiling courtier before you sir it must be on the earth then hang it all the pride which cloaks itself in such poor fashion is scarcely fit to swell a beggar's bosom old play upstairs and downstairs tripped annette velchen the soul of all that was going on in the only habitable corner of the huge castle of arnheim she was equal to every kind of service and therefore popped her head into the stable to be sure that william attended properly to arthur's horse looked into the kitchen to see that the old cook marthon roasted the partridges in due time and interference for which she received little thanks rummaged out a flask or two of rine wine from the huge dom daniel of a cellar and finally just peeped into the parlor to see how arthur was looking when having the satisfaction to see he had in the best manner he could sedulously arranged his person she assured him that he should shortly see her mistress who was rather indisposed yet could not refrain from coming down to see so valued an acquaintance arthur blushed when she spoke thus and seemed so handsome in the waiting maid's eye that she could not help saying to herself as she went to her young lady's room well if true love cannot manage to bring that couple together in spite of all the obstacles that they stand boggling at i will never believe that there is such a thing as true love in the world let martin springer say what he will and swear to it on the gospels when she reached the young baroness's apartment she found to her surprise that instead of having put on what finery she possessed that young lady's choice had preferred the same simple curdle which she had worn during the first day that arthur had dined at geierstein and that looked at first puzzled and doubtful then suddenly recognized the good taste which had dictated the attire and exclaimed you are right you are right it is best to meet him as a free hearted swiss maiden and also smiled as she replied but at the same time in the walls of arnhem i must appear in some respect as the daughter of my father here girl aid me to put this gem upon the ryband which binds my hair it was an agrit or plume composed of two feathers of a vulture fastened together by an opal which changed to the changing light with a variability which enchanted the swiss damsel who had never seen anything resembling it in her life now baroness ann said she if that pretty thing be really worn as a sign of your rank it is the only thing belonging to your dignity that i should ever think of coveting for it doth shimmer and change color after a most wonderful fashion even something like one's own cheek when one is fluttered alas annette said the baroness passing her hand across her eyes of all the gods which the females of my house have owned this perhaps hath been the most fatal to its possessors and why then wear it said annette why wear it now of all days of the year because it best reminds me of my duty to my father and family and now girl look thou sit with us at table and leave not the apartment and see thou fly not to and fro to help thyself or others with anything on the board but remain quiet and seated till william helps you to what you have occasion for well that is a gentle fashion which i like well enough said annette and william serves us so debonarily that it is a joy to see him yet ever and anon i feel as if i were not annette velchin herself but only annette velchin's picture since i can neither rise sit down run about nor stand still without breaking some rule of courtly breeding it is not so i daresay with you who are always mannerly less courtly then thou seemest to think said the highborn maiden but i feel the restraint more on the greensward and under heaven's free air than when i undergo it closed within the walls of an apartment ah true the dancing said annette that was something to be sorry for indeed but most am i sorry annette that i cannot tell whether i act precisely right or wrong in seeing this young man though it must be for the last time were my father to arrive were it all schreckenwald to return your father is too deeply engaged on some of his dark and mystic errands said the flippant swiss sailed to the mountains of the brockenburg where witches hold their Sabbath or gone on a hunting party with the wild huntsman hi annette how dare you talk thus of my father why i know little of him personally said the damsel and you yourself do not know much more and how should that be false which all men say is true why fool what do they say why that the count is a wizard that your grandmother was a will of wisp and old it tell schreckenwald a born devil incarnate and there is some truth in that whatever comes of the rest where is he gone down to spend the night in the village to see the rine graves men quartered and keep them in some order if possible for the soldiers are disappointed of pay which they have been promised and when this happens nothing resembles a lung snack except a chafed bear go we down then girl it is perhaps the last night which we may spend for years with a certain degree of freedom i will not pretend to describe the embarrassment with which arthur philipson and and of geierstein met neither lifted their eyes neither spoke intelligibly as they greeted each other and the maiden herself did not blush more deeply than her modest visitor while the good-humored swiss girl whose ideas of love partook of the freedom of a more arcadian country and its customs looked on with eyebrows a little arched much in wonder and a little in contempt at a couple who as she might think acted with such unnatural and constrained reserve deep was the reverence and the blush with which arthur offered his hand to the young lady and her acceptance of the courtesy had the same character of extreme bashfulness agitation and embarrassment in short the little or nothing intelligible passed between this very handsome and interesting couple the interview itself did not on that account lose any interest arthur handed the maiden as was the duty of a gallant of the day into the next room where their repast was prepared and annette who watched with singular attention everything which occurred felt with astonishment that the forms and ceremonies of the higher orders of society had such an influence even over her freeborn mind as the rights of the druids over that of the roman general when he said i scorn them yet they owe me what can have changed them said annette when at geierstein they looked but like another girl and bachelor only that an is so very handsome but now they move in time and manner as if they were leading a stately pavant and behave to each other with as much formal respect as if he were landman of the underwater and she the first lady of burn tis all very fine doubtless but it is not the way that martin springer makes love apparently the circumstances in which each of the young people was placed recalled to them the habits of lofty and somewhat formal courtesy to which they might have been accustomed in former days and while the baroness felt it necessary to observe the strictest decorum in order to qualify the reception of arthur into the interior of her retreat he on the other hand endeavored to show by the profoundness of his respect that he was incapable of misusing the kindness with which he had been treated they placed themselves at table scrupulously observing the distance which might become a virtuous gentleman and made the youth william did the service of the entertainment with deafness and courtesy as one well accustomed to such duty and annette placing herself between them and endeavoring as closely as she could to adhere to the ceremonies which she saw them observe made practice of these civilities which were expected from the attendant of a baroness various however were the errors which she committed her demeanor in general was that of a greyhound in the slips ready to start up every moment and she was only withheld by the recollection that she was to ask for that which she had far more mind to help herself to other points of etiquette were transgressed in their turn after their repast was over and the attendant had retired the waiting damsel often mingled to unceremoniously in the conversation and could not help calling her mistress by her christian name of ann and in defiance of all decorum addressed her as well as phillipson with the pronoun thou which then as well as now was a dreadful solicism in german politeness her blunders were so far fortunate that by furnishing the young lady and arthur with a topic foreign to the peculiarities of their own situation they enabled them to withdraw their attentions from its embarrassments and to exchange smiles at poor annette's expense she was not long of perceiving this and half meddled half availing herself of the apology to speak her mind said with considerable spirit you have both been very merry for soothe at my expense and all because i wished rather to rise and seek what i wanted than wait till the poor fellow who was kept trotting between the board and buffet found leisure to bring it to me you laugh at me now because i call you by your names as they were given to you in the blessed church at your christening and because i say to you the and now addressing my junker and my young fra as i would do if i were on my knees praying to heaven but for all your new world fancies i can tell you you are but a couple of children who do not know your own minds and are justing away the only leisure given you to provide for your own happiness nay frown not my sweet mistress bareness i have looked at mount pilates too often to fear a gloomy brow he's annette said her mistress or quit the room were i not more your friend than i am my own said the headstrong and undaunted annette i would quit the room and the castle to boot and leave you to hold your house here with your amiable seneshaw itel schreckenwald if not for love yet for shame for charity be silent or leave the room nay said annette my bolt is shot and i have butt hinted at what all upon geierstein green said the night when the bow of buddha's holes was bended you know what the old saw says peace peace for heaven's sake or i must needs fly said the young bareness nay then said annette considerably changing her tone as if afraid that her mistress should actually retire if you must fly necessity must have its course i know no one who can follow this mistress of mine signor arthur would require for her attendant not a homely girl of flesh and blood like myself but a waiting woman with substance composed of gossamer and breath supplied by the spirit of ether would you believe it it is seriously held by many that she partakes of the race of spirits of the elements which makes her so much more bashful than maidens of this everyday world and of geierstein seemed rather glad to lead away the conversation from the turn which her wayward maiden had given to it and to turn it on more indifferent subjects though these were still personal to herself signor arthur she said thinks perhaps he has some room to nourish some such strange suspicion as your heedless folly expresses and some fools believe both in germany and switzerland confess signor arthur you thought strangely of me when i passed your guard upon the bridge of graft slust on the night last past the recollection of the circumstances which had so greatly surprised him at the time so startled arthur that it was with some difficulty he commanded himself so as to attempt an answer at all and what he did say on the occasion was broken and unconnected i did hear i own that is rudolf donner hugel reported but that i believed that you gentle lady were other than a christian maiden nay if rudolf were the reporter said annette you would hear the worst of my lady and her lineage that is certain he is one of those prudent personages who depreciate and find fault with the goods he has thoughts of purchasing in order to deter other offers yes he told you a fine goblin story i warrant you of my lady's grandmother and truly it so happened that the circumstances of the case gave i daresay some color in your eyes to not so annette answered arthur whatever might be said of your lady that sounded uncouth and strange fell to the ground as incredible not quite so much so i fancy interrupted annette without heeding sign or frown i strongly suspect i should have had much more trouble in dragging you hither to this castle had you known you were approaching the haunt of the nymph of the fire the salamander as they call her not to mention the shock of again seeing the descendant of that maiden of the fiery mental peace once more annette said her mistress since fate has occasioned this meeting let us not neglect the opportunity to disabuse our english friend of the absurd report he has listened to with doubt and wonder perhaps but not with absolute incredulity signor arthur philipson she proceeded it is true my grandfather by the mother's side baron herman of arnhem was a man of great knowledge in obtuse sciences he was also a presiding judge of a tribunal of which you must have heard called the holy them one night a stranger closely pursued by the agents of that body which crossing herself it is not safe even to name arrived at the castle and craved his protection and the rights of hospitality my grandfather finding the advance which the stranger had made to the rank of adept gave him his protection and became bail to deliver him to answer the charge against him for a year and a day which delay he was it seems entitled to require on his behalf they studied together during that term and pushed their researches into the mysteries of nature as far in all probability as men have the power of urging them when the fatal day drew nigh on which the guest must part from his host he asked permission to bring his daughter to the castle that they might exchange a last farewell she was introduced with much secrecy and after some days finding that her father's fate was so uncertain the baron with the sages consent agreed to give the forlorn maiden refuge in his castle hoping to obtain from her some additional information concerning the languages and the wisdom of the east danis shummond her father left this castle to go to render himself up to the vam garrick at full the the result is unknown perhaps he was saved by baron arneheim's testimony perhaps he was given up to the steel and the cord on such matters who dare speak the fair persian became the wife of her guardian and protector amid many excellences she had one peculiarity allied to imprudence she availed herself of her foreign dress and manners as well as of a beauty which was said to have been marvelous and an agility seldom equaled to impose upon and terrify the ignorant german ladies who hearing her speak persian and arabic were already disposed to consider her as over closely connected with unlawful arts she was of a fanciful and imaginative disposition and delighted to place herself in such colors and circumstances as might confirm their most ridiculous suspicions which she considered only as matter of sport there was no end to the stories to which she gave rise her first appearance in the castle was said to be highly picturesque and to have inferred something of the marvelous with the levity of a child she had some childish passions and while she encouraged the growth and circulation of the most extraordinary legends amongst some of the neighborhood she entered into disputes with persons of her own quality concerning rank and precedence on which the ladies of west philia have at all times set great store this cost her her life for on the morning of the christening of my poor mother the baroness of arnhem died suddenly even while a splendid company was assembled in the castle chapel to witness the ceremony it was believed that she died of poison administered by the baroness steinfeld with whom she was engaged in a bitter quarrel entered into chiefly on behalf of her friend and companion the countess wall stenton and the opal gem and the sprinkling with water said arthur philipson ah replied the young baroness i see you desire to hear the real truth of my family history of which you have yet learned only the romantic legend the sprinkling of water was necessarily had recourse to on my ancestors first swoon as for the opal i have heard that it did indeed grow pale but only because it is said to be the nature of that noble gem on the approach of poison some part of the quarrel with the baroness steinfeld was about the right of the persian maiden to wear this stone which an ancestor of my family won in battle from the soldan of trebizond all these things were confused in popular tradition and the real facts turned into a fairy tale but you have said nothing suggested arthur philipson on on on what said his hostess on your appearance last night it is possible said she that a man of sense and an englishman cannot guess at the explanation which i have to give though not perhaps very distinctly my father you are aware has been a busy man in a disturbed country and has incurred the hatred of many powerful persons he is therefore obliged to move in secret and avoid unnecessary observation he was besides a verse to meet his brother the landman i was therefore told on our entering germany that i was to expect a signal where and when to join him the token was to be a small crucifix of bronze which had belonged to my poor mother in my apartment at graf slust i found the token with a note from my father making me acquainted with a secret passage proper to such places which though it had the appearance of being blocked up was in fact very slightly barricaded by this i was instructed to pass to the gate make my escape into the woods and meet my father at a place appointed there a wild and perilous adventure said arthur i have never been so much shocked continued the maiden as at receiving this summons compelling me to steal away from my kind and affectionate uncle and go i knew not with her yet compliance was absolutely necessary the place of meeting was plainly pointed out a midnight walk in the neighborhood of protection was to me a trifle but the precaution of posting sentinels at the gate might have interfered with my purpose had i not mentioned it to some of my elder cousins the beatermans who readily agreed to let me pass and repass unquestioned but you know my cousins honest and kind-hearted they are of a rude way of thinking and as incapable of feeling a generous delicacy as some other persons here there was a glance towards annette velchin they exacted from me that i should conceal myself and my purpose from sigism and as they are always making sport with the simple youth they insisted that i should pass him in such a manner as might induce him to believe that i was a spiritual apparition and out of his terrors for supernatural beings they expected to have much amusement i was obliged to secure their connivance at my escape on their own terms and indeed i was too much grieved at the prospect of quitting my kind uncle to think much of anything else yet my surprise was considerable when contrary to expectation i found you on the bridge as sentinel instead of my cousin sigism and your own ideas i ask not for they were those of a fool said arthur of a thrice sodden fool had i been odd else i would have offered my escort my sword i could not have accepted your protection said ann calmly my mission was in every respect a secret one i met my father some intercourse had taken place betwixt him and rudolf donner hugel which induced him to alter his purpose of carrying me away with him last night i joined him however early this morning while annette acted for a time my part amongst the swiss pilgrims my father desired that it should not be known when or with whom i left my uncle and his escort i need scarce remind you that i saw you in the dungeon you were the preserver of my life said the youth the restorer of my liberty ask me not the reason of my silence i was then acting under the agency of others not under mine own your escape was effected in order to establish a communication betwixt the swiss without the fortress and the soldiers within after the alarm at la ferrette i learned from sigism and beaterman that a party of banditi were pursuing your father and you with a view to pillage and robbery my father had furnished me with the means of changing and of geierstein into a german maiden of quality i set out instantly and glad i am to have given you a hint which might free you from danger but my father said arthur i have every reason to hope he is well and safe answered the young lady more than i were eager to protect both you and him poor sigism and among the first and now my friend these mysteries explained it is time we part and forever part and forever repeated the youth in a voice like a dying echo it is our fate said the maiden i appealed to you if it is not your duty i tell you it is mine you will depart with early dawn to strausberg and and we never meet again with an ardor of passion which he could not repress arthur phillips and through himself at the feet of the maiden whose faltering tone had clearly expressed that she felt deeply in uttering the words she looked round for annette but annette had disappeared at this most critical moment and her mistress for a second or two was not perhaps sorry for her absence rise she said arthur rise you must not give way to feelings that might be fatal to yourself and me hear me lady before i bid you adieu and forever the word of a criminal is heard though he plead the worst cause i am a belted knight and the sun and air of an earl whose name has been spread throughout england and france and wherever valor has had fame alas said she faintly i have but too long suspected what you now tell me rise i pray you rise never till you hear me said the youth seizing one of her hands which trembled but hardly could be said to struggle in his grasp hear me he said with the enthusiasm of first love when the obstacles of bashfulness and diffidence are surmounted my father and i are i acknowledge it bound on a most hazardous and doubtful expedition you will very soon learn its issue for good or bad if it succeed you shall hear of me in my own character if i fall i must i will i do claim a tear from ann of geierstein if i escape i have yet a horse a lance and a sword and you shall hear nobly of him whom you have thrice protected from imminent danger arise arise repeated the maiden whose tears began to flow fast as struggling to raise her lover they fell sick upon his head and face i have heard enough to listen to more were indeed madness both for you and myself yet one single word out of the youth while arthur has a heart it beats for you while arthur can wield an arm it strikes for you and in your cause annette now rushed into the room away away she cried schreckenwald has returned from the village with some horrible tidings and i fear me he comes this way arthur had started to his feet at the first signal of alarm if there is danger near your lady annette there is at least one faithful friend by her side annette looked anxiously at her mistress but schreckenwald she said schreckenwald your father steward his confident oh think better of it i can hide arthur somewhere the noble minded girl had already resumed her composure and replied with dignity i have done nothing she said to offend my father if schreckenwald be my father steward he is my vessel i hide no guest to conciliate him sit down addressing arthur and let us receive this man introduce him instantly annette and let us hear his tidings and bid him remember that when he speaks to me he addresses his mistress arthur resumed his seat still more proud of his choice from the noble and fearless spirit displayed by one who had so lately shown herself sensible to the gentlest feelings of the female sex annette assuming courage from her mistresses dauntless demeanor clapped her hands together as she left the room saying but in a low voice i see that after all it is something to be a bareness if one can't assert her dignity conformingly how could i be so much frightened for this rude man end of chapter four chapter five of ann of geierstein by sir walter scott this slippervox recording is in the public domain recording by dion gines sellick city utah affairs that walk as they say spirits do at midnight have in them a wilder nature than the business that seeks dispatch by day henry the eighth act five the approach of this steward was now boldly expected by the little party arthur flattered at once and elevated by the firmness which an had shown when this person's arrival was announced hastily considered the part which he was to act in the approaching scene and prudently determined to avoid all active and personal interference till he should observe from the demeanor of an that such was likely to be useful or agreeable to her he resumed his place therefore at a distant part of the board on which their meal had been lately spread and remained there determined to act in the manner and behavior should suggest as most prudent and fitting veiling at the same time the most acute internal anxiety by an appearance of that deferential composure which one of inferior rank adopts when admitted to the presence of a superior and on her part seemed to prepare herself for an interview of interest and air of conscious dignity succeeded the extreme agitation which she had so lately displayed and busying herself with some articles of female work she also seemed to expect with tranquility the visit to which her attendant was disposed to attach so much alarm a step was heard upon the stair hurried and unequal as that of someone in confusion as well as haste the door flew open and it all schreckenwald entered this person with whom the details given to the elder phillipson by the landman beederman have made the reader in some degree acquainted was a tall well-made soldierly looking man his dress like that of persons of rank at the period in germany was more varied in color more cut and ornamented slashed and jagged than the habit worn in france and england the never-failing hawks feather decked his cap secured with a medal of gold which served as a clasp his doublet was a buff for defense but laid down as it was called in the taylor's craft with rich lace on each seam and displaying on the breast a golden chain the emblem of his rank in the baron's household he entered with rather a hasty stout and busy and offended look and said somewhat rudely why how now young lady where for this strangers in the castle at this period of night and of geierstein though she had been long absent from her native country was not ignorant of its habits and customs and knew the haughty manner in which all who were noble exerted their authority over their dependence are you a vassal of arnheim it all schreckenwald and do you speak to the lady of arnheim in her own castle with an elevated voice a saucy look and bonneted with all know your place and when you have demanded pardon for your insolence and told your errand in such terms as befit your condition and mine i may listen to what you have to say schreckenwald's hand in spite of him stole to his bonnet and uncovered his haughty brow noble lady he said in a somewhat milder tone excuse me if my haste be unmanorly but the alarm is instant the soljury of the reingrave have mutinied plucked down the banners of their master and set up an independent ensign which they call the pennon of saint nicolas under which they declare that they will maintain peace with god and war with all the world this castle cannot escape them when they consider that the first course to maintain themselves must be to take possession of some place of strength you must up then and ride with the very peep of dawn for the present they are busy with the wineskins of the peasants but when they wake in the morning they will unquestionably march hither and you may chance to fall into the hands of those who will think of the terrors of the castle of arnheim as the figments of a fairy tale and laugh at its mistresses pretensions to honor and respect is it impossible to make resistance the castle is strong said the young lady and i am unwilling to leave the house of my father's without attempting somewhat in our defense five hundred men said schreckenwald might garrison arnheim battlement and tower with a less number it were madness to attempt to keep such an extent of walls and how to get 20 soldiers together i am sure i know not so having now the truth of the story let me beseech you to dismiss this guest too young i think to be the inmate of a lady's bower and i will point to him the niest way out of the castle for this is a straight in which we must all be contented with looking to our own safety and whether is it that you propose to go said the baroness continuing to maintain in respect to it all schreckenwald the complete and calm assertion of absolute superiority to which the senegal gave way with such marks of impatience as a fiery steed exhibits under the management of a complete cavalier to strawsburg i propose to go that is if it's so please you with such slight escort as i can get hastily together by daybreak i trust we may escape being observed by the mutineers or if we fall in with a party of stragglers i apprehend but little difficulty enforcing my way and wherefore do you prefer strawsburg as a place of asylum because i trust we shall there meet your excellency's father the noble count albert of geyerstein it is well said the young lady you also i think signure philipson spoke of directing your course to strawsburg if it consistent with your convenience you may avail yourself of the protection of my escort as far as that city where you expect to meet your father it will readily be believed that arthur cheerfully bowed ascent to a proposal which was to prolong their remaining in society together and might possibly as his romantic imagination suggested afford him an opportunity on a road beset with dangers to render some service of importance it tall schreckenwald attempted to remonstrate lady lady he said with some marks of impatience take breath and leisure schreckenwald said and you will be more able to express yourself with distinctness and with respectful propriety the impatient vassal muttered an oath betwixt his teeth and answered with forced civility permit me to state that our case requires we should charge ourselves with the care of no one but you we shall be few enough for your defense and i cannot permit any stranger to travel with us if said arthur i conceived that i was to be a useless encumbrance on the retreat of this noble young lady world's sir squire would not induce me to accept her offer but i am neither child nor woman i am a full grown man and ready to show such good service as manhood may in defense of your lady if we must not challenge your valor and ability young sir said schreckenwald who shall answer for your fidelity to question that elsewhere said arthur might be dangerous but an interfered between them we must straight to rest and remain prompt for alarm perhaps even before the hour of dawn schreckenwald i trust to your care for due watch and ward you have men enough at least for that purpose and hear and mark it is my desire and command that this gentleman be accommodated with lodgings here for this night and that he travel with us tomorrow for this i will be responsible to my father and your part is only to obey my commands i have long had occasion to know both the young man's father and himself who are ancient guests of my uncle the lenderman on the journey you will keep the youth beside you and use such courtesy to him as your rugged temper will permit it all schreckenwald intimated his acquiescence with a look of bitterness which it were vain to attempt to describe it expressed spite mortification humbled pride and reluctant submission he did submit however and ushered young philipson into a decent apartment with a bed which the fatigue and agitation of the preceding day rendered very acceptable notwithstanding the ardor with which arthur expected the rise of the next dawn his deep repose the fruit of fatigue held him until the reddening of the east when the voice of schreckenwald exclaimed up sir englishman if you mean to accomplish your boast of loyal service it is time we were in the saddle and we shall tarry for no sluggards arthur was on the floor of the apartment and dressed in almost an instant not forgetting to put on his shirt of mail and assume whatever weapons seemed most fit to render him an efficient part of the convoy he next hastened to seek out the stable to have his horse in readiness and descending for that purpose into the understory of the lower mass of buildings he was wandering in search of the way which led to the offices when the voice of annette velchin softly whispered this way signor philipson i would speak with you the swiss maiden at the same time beckoned him into a small room where he found her alone were you not surprised she said to see my lady queen it so over it all schreckenwald who keeps every other person in awe with his stern looks and crosswords but the error of command seems so natural to her that instead of being a baroness she might have been an empress it must come of birth i think after all for i tried last night to take state upon me after the fashion of my mistress and would you think it the brute schreckenwald threatened to throw me out of the window but if i ever see martin springer again i'll know if there is strength in a swiss arm and virtue in a swiss quarter staff but here i stand praying and my lady wishes to see you for a minute ere we take to horse your lady said arthur starting why did you lose an instant why not tell me before because i was only to keep you here till she came and here she is and of geierstein entered fully attired for her journey and that always willing to do as she would wish to be done by was about to leave the apartment when her mistress who had apparently made up her mind concerning what she had to do or say commanded her positively to remain i am sure she said signor philipson will rightly understand the feelings of hospitality i will say of friendship which prevented my suffering him to be expelled from my castle last night and which have determined me this morning to admit of his company on the somewhat dangerous road to strawsburg at the gate of that town we part i to join my father you to place yourself under the direction of yours from that moment intercourse between us ends and our remembrance of each other must be as the thoughts which we pay to friends deceased tender recollections said arthur passionately more dear to our bosoms than all we have surviving upon earth not a word in that tone answered the maiden with night delusion should end and reason awaken with dawning one word more do not address me on the road you may by doing so expose me to vexatious and insulting suspicion and yourself to quarrels and peril farewell our party is ready to take horse she left the apartment where arthur remained for a moment deeply bewildered in grief and disappointment the patients may even favor with which and of geierstein had on the previous night listened to his passion had not prepared him for the terms of reserve and distance which she now adopted towards him he was ignorant that noble maids if feeling or passion has for a moment swayed them from the strict path of principle and duty endeavor to atone for it by instantly returning and severely adhering to the line from which they have made a momentary departure he looked mournfully on annette who as she had been in the room before an's arrival took the privilege of remaining a minute after her departure but he read no comfort in the glances of the confidant who seemed as much disconcerted as himself i cannot imagine what have happened to her said annette to me she is kind as ever but to every other person about her she plays countess and bairness with a witness and now she is begun to tyrannize over her own natural feelings and if this be greatness annette velchin trusts always to remain the penniless swiss girl she is mistress of her own freedom and at liberty to speak with her bachelor when she pleases so as religion and maiden modesty suffer nothing in the conversation oh a single daisy twisted with content into one's hair is worth all the opals in india if they bind us to torment ourselves and other people or hinder us from speaking our mind when our heart is upon our tongue but never fear arthur for if she has the cruelty to think of forgetting you you may rely on one friend who while she has a tongue and ann has ears will make it impossible for her to do so so saying away tripped annette having first indicated to phillips and the passage by which he would find the lower court of the castle there his steed stood ready among about 20 others 12 of these were accoutered with war saddles and frontlets of proof being intended for the use of as many cavaliers or troopers retainers of the family of arnheim whom the seneshall's exertions had been able to collect on the spur of the occasion two paul frieze somewhat distinguished by their trappings were designed for ann of geierstein and her favorite female attendant the other menials chiefly boys and women servants had inferior horses at a signal made the troopers took their lances and stood by their steeds till the females and menials were mounted and in order then they spring into their saddles and began to move forward slowly and with great precaution schreckenwald led the van and kept arthur phillips and close beside him and her attendant were in the center of the little body followed by the unwarlike train of servants while two or three experienced cavaliers brought up the rear with strict orders to guard against surprise on their being put into motion the first thing which surprised arthur was that the horses hooves no longer sent forth the sharp and ringing sound arising from the collision of iron and flint and as the morning light increased he could perceive that the fetlock and hoof of every steed his own included had been carefully wrapped around with a sufficient quantity of wool to prevent the usual noise which accompanied their motions it was a singular thing to behold the passage of the little body of cavalry down the rocky road which led from the castle unattended with the noise which we are disposed to consider as inseparable from the motions of horse the absence of which seemed to give a peculiar and almost an unearthly appearance to the cavalcade they passed in this manner the winding path which led from the castle of arnhem to the adjacent village which as was the ancient feudal custom lays so near the fortress that its inhabitants when summoned by their lord could instantly repair for its defense but it was at present occupied by very different inhabitants the mutinous soldiers of the reingrave when the party from arnhem approached the entrance of the village schreckenwald made a signal to halt which was instantly obeyed by his followers he then rode forward in person to reconnoiter accompanied by arnhem phillips and both moving with the utmost steadiness and precaution the deepest silence prevailed in the deserted streets here and there a soldier was seen seemingly designed for a sentinel but uniformly fast asleep the swinish mutineers said schreckenwald a fair night watch they keep and a beautiful morning's rouse would i treat them with were not the point to protect yonder pivish wench halt thou here stranger while i ride back and bring them on there is no danger schreckenwald left arnhem as he spoke who alone in the street of a village filled with bandidi though they were lulled into temporary insensibility had no reason to consider his case as very comfortable the chorus of a wassel song which some reveler was trolling over in his sleep or in its turn the growling of some village kerr seemed the signal for and hundred ruffians to start up around him but in the space of two or three minutes the noiseless cavalcade headed by it all schreckenwald again joined him and followed their leader observing the utmost precaution not to give an alarm all went well till they reached the farther end of the village where although the barren hotter who kept guard was as drunk as his companions on duty a large shaggy dog which lay beside him was more vigilant as the little troop approached the animals sent forth a ferocious yell loud enough to have broken the rest of the seven sleepers and which effectually dispelled the slumbers of its master the soldier snatched up his carobine and fired he knew not well at what or for what reason the ball however struck arthur's horse under him and as the animal fell the sentinel rushed forward to kill or make prisoner the rider haste on haste on men of arnhem care for nothing but the young lady's safety exclaimed the leader of the band stay i command you aid the stranger on your lives said an in a voice which usually gentle and meek she now made heard by those around her like the note of a silver clarion i will not stir till he is rescued shrekenwald had already spurred his horse for flight but perceiving and's reluctance to follow him he dashed back and seizing a horse which bridled and settled stood picketed near him he threw the reins to arthur philipson and pushing his own horse at the same time betwixt the englishman and the soldier he forced the ladder to quit the hold he had on his person in an instant philipson was again mounted when seizing a battle axe which hung at the saddle bow of his new steed he struck down the staggering sentinel who was endeavoring again to seize upon him the whole troop then rode off at a gallop for the alarm began to grow general in the village some soldiers were seen coming out of their quarters and others were beginning to get upon horseback before shrekenwald and his party had ridden a mile they heard more than once the sound of bugles and when they arrived upon the summit of an eminence commanding a view of the village their leader who during the retreat had placed himself in the rear of his company now halted to reconnoiter the enemy they had left behind them there was bustle and confusion in the street but there did not appear to be any pursuit so that shrekenwald followed his route down the river with speed and activity indeed but with so much steadiness at the same time as not to distress the slowest horse of his party when they had ridden two hours and more the confidence of their leader was so much augmented that he ventured to command a halt at the edge of a pleasant grove which served to conceal their number whilst both riders and horses took some refreshment for which purpose forage and provisions had been born along with them it's all shrekenwald having held some communication with the baroness continued to offer their traveling companion a sort of surly civility he invited him to partake of his own mess which was indeed little different from that which was served out to the other troopers but was seasoned with a glass of wine from a more choice flask to your health brother he said if you tell this day's story truly you will allow that i was a true comrade to you two hours since in riding through the village of arnhem i will never deny it fair sir said phillipson and i return you thanks for your timely assistance alike whether it's spring from your mistresses order or your own goodwill ho ho my friend said shrekenwald laughing you are a philosopher and can try conclusions while your horse lies rolling above you and a baron hotter aims his sword at your throat well since your wit hath discovered so much i care not if you know that i should not have had much scruple to sacrifice 20 such smooth phased gentleman as yourself rather than the young baroness of arnhem had incurred the slightest danger the propriety of the sentiment said phillipson is so undoubtedly correct that i subscribe to it even though it is something discourteously expressed towards myself in making this reply the young man provoked at the insolence of shrekenwald's manner raised his voice a little the circumstance did not escape observation for on the instant and net welch and stood before them with her mistresses commands on them both to speak in whispers or rather to be altogether silent say to your mistress that i am mute said phillipson our mistress the baroness says continued a net with an emphasis on the title to which she began to ascribe some talismanic influence the baroness i tell you says that silence much concerns our safety for it were most hazardous to draw upon this little fugitive party the notice of any passengers who may pass along the road during the necessary halt and so sirs it is the baroness's request that you will continue the exercise of your teeth as fast as you can and forbear that of your tongues till you are in a safer condition my lady is wise answered it all shrekenwald and her maiden is witty i drink mrs annette in a cup of rudersheimer to the continuance of her sagacity and of your amiable liveliness of disposition will it please you fair mistress to pledge me in this generous liquor out thou german wine flask out thou eternal swill flagon heard you ever of a modest maiden who drank wine before she had dined remain without the generous inspiration then said the german and nourish thy satirical vein on sour cider or acid way a short space having been allowed to refresh themselves the little party again mounted their horses and traveled with such speed that long before noon they arrived at the strongly fortified town of kale opposite to strawsburg on the eastern bank of the rine it is for local antiquaries to discover whether the travelers crossed from kale to strawsburg by the celebrated bridge of boats which at present maintains the communication across the river or whether they were wafted over by some other mode of transportation it is enough that they passed in safety and had landed on the other side where whether she dreaded that he might forget the charge she had given him that here they were to separate or whether she thought that something more might be said in the moment of parting the young baroness before remounting her horse once more approached arthur philipson who too truly guessed the tenor of what she had to say gentle stranger she said i must now bid you farewell but first let me ask if you know whereabouts you are to seek your father in and in called the flying stag said arthur dejectedly but where that is situated in this large town i know not do you know the place et al schreckenwald i young lady not i i know nothing of strawsburg and its ends i believe most of our party are as ignorant as i am you and they speak german i suppose said the baroness dryly and can make inquiry more easily than a foreigner go sir and forget not that humanity to the stranger is a religious duty with that shrug of the shoulders which testifies a displeased messenger et al went to make some inquiry and in his absence brief as it was and took an opportunity to say apart farewell farewell accept this token of friendship and wear it for my sake may you be happy her slender fingers dropped into his hand a very small parcel he turned to thank her but she was already at some distance and schreckenwald who had taken his place by his side said in his harsh voice come sir squire i have found out your place of rendezvous and i have but little time to play the gentleman usher he then wrote on and phillips and mounted on his military charger followed him in silence to the point where a large street joined or rather crossed that which led from the quay on which they had landed yonder swings the flying stag said et al pointing to an immense sign which mounted on a huge wooden frame crossed almost the whole breadth of the street your intelligence can i think hardly abandon you with such a guidepost in your eye so saying he turned his horse without further farewell and rode back to join his mistress and her attendance phillips's eyes rested on the same group for a moment when he was recalled to a sense of his situation by the thoughts of his father and spurring his jaded horse down the cross street he reached the hostelry of the flying stag end of chapter five