The Dobson Family. 603 



After dinner the conversation became general ; and Emily discovered 

 that the two Englishmen were studying at Bonn ; and, moreover, that 

 one of them had no objection to while away the tedium of the voy- 

 age by a flirtation; while the other was as romantic as Juliana could 

 wish ; and she learned from him the legends attached to all the old 

 castles they passed, of which we will give one as being a good speci- 

 men of the tragic and also of German legends in general. 



THE CAJ3TLE OF HOHENSTEIN. 



The time at which my tale commenced was towards the latter 

 end of the fourteenth century, when each baron ruled in his own 

 strong hold with absolute sway, not only over his immediate vassals, 

 but also over the peaceful traveller whom he stopped, robbed, or 

 murdered, without being in dread of any other punishment than that 

 inilicted by his own conscience, and which in general was easily ap- 

 peased by a small present to his confessor, or the offering of a wax- 

 candle or petticoat to the Virgin, who generally occupied a snug 

 corner of his castle chapel. At this time, then, those old and 

 scarcely perceptible ruins that you may perceive about half-way up 

 the mountain, formed the magnificent castle of the proud baron of 

 Hohenstein, who acknowledged no laws but the dictates of his own 

 inclination; and those, if his vassals spoke true, were not always 

 confined to the strict rule of right. He exacted strict obedience from 

 every one around him, and those who had the hardihood to disobey 

 him once seldom did so a second time. 



The Baron had an only son, in every respect the opposite of his 

 father. Ulric possessed a heart feelingly alive to all the gentle in- 

 fluences of humanity : he was one of those who would turn aside to 

 avoid injuring the worm that crawled in his path ; yet differing as he 

 did in almost every thing from his " inexorable sire,'' the stern Baron 

 loved him more than everything else ; but his love did not show itself 

 in the usual way. To him the harsh command was addressed, as to 

 others ; but still there was an unconscious softening of the voice, and 

 the stern brow was less contracted when he addressed his only son, 

 the last of the long line of Hohenstein. The great hall of the castle 

 was illuminated by a hundred lamps, hung around the walls in every 

 variety of shape ; and the shields of all the illustrious race of Hohen- 

 stein were each surroundedby a laurel wreath, in which the party- 

 coloured lamps were placed ; and here all the magnates of the land 

 were gathered to behold the wedding of Ulric with the haughty 

 daughter of the yet haughtier Baron Eichenherz. The goblet passes 

 round, and all cares seem to be forgotten ; and if the heart be sad, 

 the face does not betray it. 



There the gay dance of bounding beauty's train 

 Links grace and harmony in happiest chain. 



Old Time, even, seemed to grow young again, as he fled with un- 

 noticed wing. Yet, 'midst a llthis joy, if the vassals spoke true, there 

 was at least one heart that did not beat in time to that gay measure ; 

 and that was Ulric's, on whom his father's eye often turned with an 

 inexplicable meaning. 



