each time, as she passed, to catch a more perfect view of her face. At last she stopped for a moment's rest, still leaning on her partner, who was certainly the finest young man in the room; and truly a prettier group could not have been imagined than they presented at that moment, with their arms still entwined, their faces flushed with exercise and innocent gaiety, and each looking at the other with a smile, as if to inquire how soon the other would be ready to dart off again into the delightful mazes of the waltz. After admiring them thus collectively, for a moment, of course my attention was directed towards the princess. The fair Leopoldine had grown into the most bewitching woman. Her eyes were the sweetest blue eyes in the world, and her feet might have been envied by the graces. But though I thus involuntarily roam from top to toe, let it not be thought that the above-mentioned charms were the only ones possessed by this lovely princess. Her hands, her arms, her figure, would have defied the most fastidious criticism-the whiteness of her complexion would have shamed even alabaster, and the sweet smile of her rosy lips would have presented a fitting representation of the eastern poet's simile, namely, "a row of pearls in a coral case."

I was still gazing in timid and respectful admiration, when again the handsome couple darted off with increased alacrity. My eyes followed, and followed again, till the princess stopped once more, just as a butterfly pauses a moment on a flower, exciting our attention, and urging us to pursue the brilliant capricious thing. At this moment I ventured to approach, and on the strength of her father's permission to claim her as my partner for the following dance. But it was plain I came at an unlucky moment; either I had disturbed some little scheme, or my person did not seem acceptable, for she only gave me a very cold assent, and looked disappointed at being under the necessity of complying with my request. But the transient cloud passed away before she had taken three more turns of the waltz. The elector now stepped up to her, said a few words, and the musicians were told to cease, and to strike up a dance. The young officer let go his partner with a low bow, I was signed to approach, and the elector said good-humouredly to his daughter, "I have so many brave men to present to you, that I protest against the lieutenant's monopolizing you for all the waltzes. This is Colonel Heldenstein-in a few years more, no doubt, General Heldenstein."

"General Heldenstein," said she, still looking in the direction that her father and the young officer had taken, "I am most happy to dance with you."

"Alas! I am only a colonel as yet," said I, in a low, respectful tone, "and scarcely worthy the honour now done me."

Instantly she turned round, and fixing her blue eyes on mine, she said, with some naïveté, "What matters the rank to me?" Then, as if wishing to efface any little mortification I might have felt, she entered into conversation in the most affable and unaffected manner. Even had I previously thought that any sarcasm was intended by the unmerited appellation of general, her perfectly natural tone and manner, and child-like simplicity, would have shown me my error. Her attention was evidently very much taken up by her father's proceed

ings, who was now taking the young officer to present him as a partner to a lady of high rank, and one of the finest women at court, and though she kept answering me, and even addressing me constantly, her eyes invariably wandered to the same part of the room, while her artless countenance depicted various gradations of interest, uneasiness, or pleasure, which sensation evidently triumphed over the others, as, from a distance, we could see that the lady, with millions of bows and excuses to the elector, was obliged to confess that she was already engaged, and must decline obeying him.

"Defeated!" said I in an audible whisper," and obliged to sound the retreat."

She looked at me half-ashamed that I had been observing the same little scene as herself, yet half delighted at the quickness with which I had taken up the thread of her thoughts. After that, however, she was more cautious, and only now and then directed her eyes towards the spot where the young man, now provided with a very pretty partner, was, like ourselves, standing up to dance.

I did my best to acquit myself of my part with becoming dignity and grace, and, stimulated to the utmost exertions by the sight of the zephyr-like motions of my fair companion, it was, I believe, allowed that Colonel Heldenstein was one of the best dancers that night. And, if I might trust to the parting smile that the princess vouchsafed to give me, I had reason to think that she had been as satisfied with my conversation, as my vanity convinced me she had been with my dancing. The moment I had led her to her seat and quitted her, I went to inquire who the graceful officer was, whose person had attracted so large a share of my notice. I was told he was a young soldier of fortune, Ernest von Hohenfels by name, who possessed nothing further than his handsome person and his commission. That he was the best rider, the best fencer, and the finest dancer amongst all the officers, whether in the elector's guards, or in any other regiment. And that, in the three months he had been at court, more hearts had been broken, duels fought, and families set together by the ears, than had ever occurred in so short a time within the memory of man. Happy fellow! his was the sovereignty of universal approbation; and a far more enviable one it is than that which is conferred by hereditary rank! All the rest of the night I was in great request as one who had had the honour of the princess's hand, and I danced with all the prettiest girls in happy oblivion of the flight of time, till at length the departure of the guests warned me likewise to retire, and to seek rest after so exciting a scene.

"What a pity," thought I, when alone in my chamber, "that so lovely a creature as Leopoldine should be doomed by the decrees of fate to pass through life unloving and unloved!—unloved at least by her future husband, some cold-hearted and stately king—and if loving, obliged to conceal every movement of her soul, to stifle all those natural emotions in which others may indulge. O! wretched the destiny of this fairest flower of earth, if such is to be the history of her life. Alas! the struggles of men and of heroes

are recorded in pompous annals; but who ever notes down the silent tears of these poor victims of political measures, who are bartered and sold without the power of resistance and denial?”

And so saying, in the honest fervor of my indignation, I flung off, in all directions, the different component parts of my uniform, and jumped into the bed in a paroxysm of rage, which, however, very quickly yielded to sleep. It must not be inferred from this that I was already deeply in love with the charming Leopoldine; but this train of thoughts had imperceptibly formed one long chain in my mind, the first link of which might be traced back to Ernest. On the other hand, I do not pretend that I was wholly insensible to so beautiful a woman. All the young men about court were more or less in love with her, and I should have made myself ridiculous, had I affected a prudery on this head which I did not feel. But a love of this nature, which dwelt in the imagination entirely, left no bitter traces in my heart; and though I can still cry, "God bless the daughter of my good sovereign," no alloy of fond regrets is mixed up in my mind with the memory of this fair being, other than the natural sorrows we all feel about the youthful days that are past, and the bright visions that are gone with them.

It was my wish to cultivate the acquaintance of this fortunate Ernest, who stood so high in every one's good graces; and, as a senior officer, I considered it my part to make the first advances of civility towards a young man to whom the notice of one of superior rank could but be flattering. I frequently invited him to my table, and our intimacy very soon ripened into friendship. I found him as agreeable as his exterior was prepossessing, yet without any of the arrogance that his brilliant abilities might, in a degree, have almost excused. I frequently recurred to the day I had first seen him dancing with the princess; but somehow the subject seemed an awkward one, and I used to fancy he was never quite at ease when her name was mentioned, for he always dismissed it so soon, that I found myself talking alone, and was consequently forced to drop it likewise. This seemed so singular, that I was led to reflect upon it, and to draw many conclusions, which I became eager to verify, though I had the discretion to keep the subject entirely to myself, making only a lawful use of my eyes and ears to confirm or reject the suspicions I had formed. The principal field for my observations was the Sunday evening, when the elector delighted to collect around him a few choice friends, and to indulge in the recreation of listening to the music of Mozart, most ably performed by his chamber musicians. Between whiles conversation succeeded to music; and prints and valuable works, which were generally lying about on the table, furnished topics of interest for some to discuss; for here might be seen all sorts of literati, and learned and scientific men, mixed with gay officers and elegant courtiers, to all of whom the good elector was like a friend and host, without showing any of the pomp of state occasions to spoil the amusements of a day which he considered as peculiarly his own. Leopoldine appeared, on these occasions, to even greater advantage than when decked in all the jewels of the crown. There was no stateliness about her, all was nature, heart, and youthful gaiety. What

ever she did or said, pleased; and, without any affectation of condescension, you were instantly set at your ease when addressing her. Ernest frequently approached her, and talked a long while with her, and then he would start up as if aware he had been a little indiscreet in detaining her attention so long, and would walk to the other side of the room, and begin talking to some old and grave politician, or else seem immersed in looking at some book, although by his manner of turning the leaves, I could plainly discern that he was not attending to what he pretended to be about. One evening that I was standing near the table, the princess approached me, and said with the sweetest smile imaginable, "Colonel Heldenstein, my father tells me you are an excellent draughtsman. Might I beg a favour of you? It would be to draw me something for my album."

Pleased and flattered, I extended my hand to receive the book, and assuring her in somewhat hurried accents that I would do my best, I made her a low bow, and retreated to reflect on the favour I had received. I was certainly highly delighted that she should have heard of any little talent of mine, and wished to put it to the test; but, perhaps, my greatest pleasure consisted in this having been done before Ernest, who was himself no contemptible draughtsman, but to whom no similar request was addressed. I took the book home and laid it ostentatiously on my table, that all my friends might see it when they came to visit me, and I was very busy all the week considering what subject I should choose, and making all kinds of little sketches. Sometimes I thought of making some allegorical compliment, but there is a fadeur about those things which was always very disgusting to my feelings. Why should I bring in Teutonia, or introduce Hope, Peace and Plenty into a lady's album? She might see things of this kind at any public fête in transparencies as large as life; therefore that idea was laid aside. Then I thought of the whole tribe of Cupids, Graces, and even of Venus herself; but Cupids might be deemed presumptuous, and the Goddess of Love might imply too direct a meaning. At last, however, it struck me, that by representing Venus in her capacity of Goddess of Beauty only, standing before Paris with her two rivals, and giving her the features of Leopoldine, it would be a delicate manner of expressing that she herself was the fairest among the fair. I therefore resolved upon the judgment of Paris, and began to try my hand upon it. Ernest, who ever since I had the album had come in twenty times a day to inspect my work, and volunteer his advice, now highly approved of my design, and advised me to use all the diligence I could to finish it. Still I was determined to take my time, to do it well, notwithstanding he was perpetually teazing me. I had a very good engraving which represented the princess, and was faithful enough as a likeness to afford me an original, and I kept working from this, adding out of my own head wherever I saw any little deficiency that I thought I could remedy. At last I succeeded in imparting a good deal of her look and expression to my Venus, and I felt sinfully tempted to take down Ernest's profile for my Paris. And there he was, sitting in so tempting a position, as if he had meant to invite me to do it. My good sense, however, triumphed at last-or rather, I should say, my good-nature, for I felt how pained I should be, if I

caused my charming princess the least embarassment; and who knows but what the elector might be seriously angry at the joke, should it ever meet his eye? Throughout my career I have always known how to refrain, and this no doubt is the secret of the great advances that I have made in life, and especially at court, I felt more relieved than the occasion warranted, when once I had taken my resolution, and drawn irrevocably a set of smooth unintellectual features for Paris, instead of the fine, bold, and expressive profile of my young military friend. On Sunday evening, as my drawing was not finished, I did not like to appear in the elector's circle. I desired Ernest to be the bearer of my excuses to the princess, if she did me the honour to remember my existence, while I staid at home hoping that my absence might cause some little sensation in the royal party, for we have always the weakness to fancy that we are missed when away, though the neglect we often experience when present ought to convince us of the contrary. The next day the fat old General Bwhose breast, broad as it is, is covered with orders, called at my lodgings. "You are a most lucky fellow," said he; "the princess was out of humour the whole of yesterday evening, because Colonel Heldenstein and the album did not make their appearance. Only think of that! I, who am a general, never obtained as much in the whole course of my life.”

So saying, he made a low bow to me, as to the rising star of the day, and left me to pay some other diplomatic visits, while I remained lost in wonder why he had honoured me with a call, and quite intoxicated with delight at the impression I had made. The old general, who had forgotten his snuff-box, waddled back into the room to fetch it, and tapping me on the shoulder said, "But though your success has been complete this time, believe me, don't push things too far, Mind the drawing is ready next Sunday, if not sooner, or ten to one it will be forgotten altogether, and you will miss your point." And he laughed all the way down stairs to think how he saw through my manœuvre, as he thought, and had hit the very nail on the head.

Ernest came in later, and without attributing to me any secret motive, which I had not, like the old general, urged me to make what haste I conveniently could, as the princess much wished to have back the book. I therefore worked at the drawing with great diligence, and in two days more I completed it. As I was going to have an interview with the elector that morning, I determined to take the album with me, and ask leave to present it to the princess. It was lying on the table while I was dressing myself in full uniform, when Ernest, as usual, dropped in, He sat down to examine the drawing, which he commended very highly, and as I was busy dressing, and in rather a hurry, I took no further notice of his presence, as he seemed fully occupied in looking over the book. When my toilet was completed I approached the table, and furled over the pages to show him a view near Osnaburg, which I thought was beautifully touched off, and in so doing, I perceived what I had never before observed, namely, that two of the leaves were stuck together by wafers.

"I wonder what this can be?" said I; "if I were indiscreet, I might take a peep at it."