158 FAITH UNTO DEATH. 



in the west, and a sea of azure and amethyst spread over the sky j 

 the breeze freshened and sighed more pensively through the trees, 

 the hum of the insect became more audible, and still sweeter sang 

 the bird in the grove. " It groweth late," said the maiden, raising 

 her eyes to the star that glanced suddenly out in the sky, " the day 

 light waneth away and he hath not yet come." " But he will come, 

 bird of my heart ! he will come to thee, though wood and water 

 divide ye," fondly uttered a venerable female who, hooded and 

 ruffed, sat in a carved high-backed chair of ebony, and gazed with 

 almost maternal tenderness on the spiritual countenance of the 

 girl. 



** Nay, good nurse, — dear nurse, he never tarried yet so long, 

 and when we last parted he was pledged to return ere the shade of 

 the linden had fled from the grass. False Hans ! his love is air — 

 his vows but as brittle glass !" and the maiden haughtily drew from 

 the lattice, as disdaining to watch for the laggard. Her greyhound, 

 a small and beautiful animal, adorned with a silver collar and 

 bells, attracted her notice j she stooped to caress it, but the creature 

 neglecting her hand, started up from its cushion, and bounding 

 through the casement, vanished at the end of the avenue before it. 

 The aged nurse smiled, but the brow of the maiden reddened and 

 her glance grew perturbed as she directed it once more to the 

 garden j beyond the thick shrubs a white plume was seen waving, 

 the rose-bushes gave way to an impetuous movement, the quick 

 tread of a spurred heel was heard on the gravel, a bright eye 

 beamed up at the casement — in the next instant the lover was 

 at the feet of his mistress, and the greyhound circling the room, 

 springing and careering about with the wildest demonstrations of 

 joy. But fitful and capricious are the skies of love's sweet Para- 

 dise ! There were many chidings given with averted eyes, much 

 doubting and sweet irony, feigned anger and indifference, and to 

 these the truant sedulously opposed soft expostulation and plead- 

 ing intermingled with winning assurances of faith. The melody 

 of his voice and the captivation of his eloquence, were not lost on 

 the maiden ; abating her scorn, she deigned the suppliant a look 

 of melting witchery, while a sportive smile played round her lips 

 as his most impassioned hyperboles fell fast on her ear. In short, 

 peace was concluded and the offender forgiven, and the good old 

 matron smiled cheerily as she beheld the pair tenderly strolling 

 through the green haunts of the garden — Unna, the child of her 

 heart, with head declined, listening to the enthusiasm of her lover, 

 and Van Schooreel pouring out the fond joy of his soul in the ear 

 of his beloved. They had rambled twice or thrice round the 

 garden, buried in sweet converse, yet oft lingering to inhale the 

 scent of a flower, to train up a plant, or to gaze upon the diamonds 

 that glistened in myriads above, and now, with some hesitation. 

 Van Schoorcel falteringly announced his departure at day-break for 

 Utrecht. Unna paused instantaneously, and fixing her fair eyes 

 steadfastly upon the face of her lover, inquired at what period he 

 "Would return J her colour fluctuated rapidly as she awaited his 



