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ment was again heard, and the next moment a soft, and by no means unharmonious voice, admirably accompanied by the melodious strain of a lute, singing the following verses':

"Sleep on, in peace, oh lady fair!

And be thy dreams of me;

My true love's pledge while thou dost wear,

My true love thou shalt be.

"Sleep on, sleep on, oh lady fair!

To guard thy rest be mine;

My throne and crown with thee I'll share !
Bright Empress of the Rhine!"

The mysterious accents slowly died away. A rustling, followed by a sliding woise, was again heard. A dead silence succeeded—not a sound—not a breath disturbed the stillness that reigned around her. It was some time, however, before she could assume courage to rise and awake her attendants, who slept in an apartment separated from hers by an antechamber.

It is needless to describe here the alarm evinced at first by the waiting women on being made acquainted with the extraordinary visitation by which the countess's repose had been disturbed, convinced as they were that it was Impossible for any person to have entered her chamber without first passing through theirs, which was carefully secured on the inside; but, anxious to remove the apprehensions entertained by their beloved mistress, they endeavoured to conceal theirs, unanimously declaring her alarm was occasioned by the intense influence of a troublesome dream.

For a moment Mexina seemed inclined to believe in the possibility of such an infatuation, but the next instant the rays of the lamp that usually burned all night in the antechamber revealed, for the first time, to her startled eyes the unknown lustre of the ring she wore.

Her own had been removed, and that of a stranger substituted in its place. By whom had the change been effected? She paused-she remembered to have dropped her ring when she retired to her chamber for the night, but she had herself sought for and replaced it on her finger. It was then certain that the visible substitution of a stranger's ring could not be an imaginary delusion. Again she paused, and the mysterious accents of the invisible musician recurred to her memory. A sensation of horror thrilled through her agitated frame, and, desiring her women to watch around her till morning, threw herself upon a couch, where, exhausted by painful apprehension, her excited feelings gradnally subsided into a melancholy calm, that was soon followed by a quiet and undisturbed slumber, which lasted till morning.

Mexina rose early, but the fearful recollection of the mysterious events of the

preceding night, which she could no longer ascribe to the influence of her disturbed imagination, while she fearfully contemplated the unknown ring that sparkled on her finger, with a brilliancy infinitely surpassing the lustre of her own, imparted to her soul an almost overpowering sensation of horror, and falling on her knees, with streaming eyes, she implored the protection of Heaven, offering up fervent vows of repentance for her past disregard of the salutary counsels of Madame Steinberg, and the pious admonitions of the reverend Father Nicholas.

Having concluded her morning's devotions, she felt more composed, and hastened to her aunt's chamber, which communicated with the gallery leading to her own. But alas! poor Carlotta was not in a state to administer either advice or consolation to her dear niece. Far different were the sounds that broke in peals of horror on her midnight dream to the soft melody that breathed gently on the startled ears of Mexina-far different was the form of her nocturnal visitant to the shadowy appearance of the royal dwarf, as he flitted lightly and gracefully before the astonished eyes of the daughter of Carlsberg.

An involuntary exclamation of mingled surprise and alarm burst from Mexina's lips as she entered her aunt's chamber.

Pale, trembling, gasping for breath, there sat the baroness, her teeth chattering, her eyes glaring; rage, terror, and despair, were depicted in her countenance; dread of the future, not remorse for the past, agitated every nerve; her proud spirit was levelled to the earth, and she awaited her destiny (may I in part borrow Shakspeare's well-known simile), like patience on a monument, grinning at despair.

"Are you ill, dear baroness?" exclaimed Mexina, forgetting her own troubles while she gazed anxiously on the alarming appearance of the wretched Carlotta.

"Ill-yes, I am ill," cried the baroness. "But I can see plainly enough how things are going on. It is all the work of the villanous sorcerer, Sir Hildebrand; but I shall denounce him to the Emperor himself, who cannot do less than sentence him to be burned at the stake, for thus-yes, I repeat it, for thus daring to insult Carlotta of Wildenheim."

A flush of anger suffused the fair cheek of the beautiful Mexina; it wounded her to the soul to hear the honour of her father's friend called in question even by the baroness.

"I am at a loss to comprehend your meaning," she replied. "Pray tell me what has happened?"

"What has happened!" interrupted Carlotta, darting a look of reproach at her niece.

“You are strangely altered, my dear aunt," continued the countess. this unkindness to me-in what have I given you offence?"

"Why

"I am sufficiently offended, child," muttered the baroness. "My perplexities weed not any aggravation on your part. Yes, I can lead in your countenance hat is passing in your soul. Even you will, after all my care and tender ss, combine against my peace and safety with the Wizard Lord of Wolfenstein for the sake of that proud youth, his nephew."

Mexina burst into tears..

The perturbation of Carlotta's mind had thrown her off her guard, but the sight of Mexina's tears quickly reminded her of the indiscretion she was committing, and softening her accents to their peculiar cadence when addressing her niece, she continued,

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"Forgive my petulance, dear Mexina; you surely can make some allowance for the lasty expressions to which my agitated feelings may have given utterance, while my mind is labouring under the pressure of the most alarming sensations; but I will not keep you any longer in suspense. I know not how long I had been asleep when I was awakened by a terrific cry, followed by a howling noise, apparently at no great distance; for a moment I listened attentively; all was then silent, and, concluding that my alarm was occasioned by one of the mountain wolves, that, impelled by hunger, had ventured to approach the castle, I again composed myself to sleep; but no sooner had I laid my head upon the pillow, then I heard a second time the same dreadful yells by which I was first awakened, and what were my feelings when, from the proximity of the sound, I was convinced the monster had found its way into my apartment. I could not utter a single word; again and again the savage yells vibrated on my ear, and I watched in horrible suspense for the approach of the object of my fears. You are aware that the night was dark, the feeble glimmering of the starlight fell dimly on the casement-again all was silent, and I began to hope the unwelcome intruder had retreated from the chamber, when to my inexpressible consternation, a gigantic form appeared before me, bearing in one hand a balance, and in the other a sword. I could distinguish no more amidst the darkness with which the terrible phantom was enveloped. The dreadful visitant approached the sword was uplifted in his hand, and fixing his eyes sternly upon me, he spoke some words in an unknown tongue, of which the import without doubt was horrible enough. Fnding I continued silent, he again spoke in the same language, and flourishing his sword over my head in an attitude that seemed to threaten instant decapitation, poised the balance. Overcome with terror I swooned away-how long I remained in a state of insensibility I cannot tell, but as recollection gradually returned I found Ida bending over me administering the usual restoratives.

"How came you to find me thus?' I demanded.

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"I was awakened by a noise,' she answered, that seemed to proceed from

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