It was a relief to all of us when coffee made and I was childish enough to feel sad, if not "Who is this gentleman, Victor, that seems to know a little of everything and everybody, and whose thirst for information seems so unquenchable?" "Hush!" replied Victor, with an uneasy look at the couple in front of us; "he speaks English as well as you do, though I dare say he told you not. My dear Vere, for Heaven's sake, to-night sit still and hold your tongue!" Countess Valèrie to "give us a little music," adding in perfect innocence," do play that beautiful march out of The Honyàdy'it is so inspiriting and so thoroughly national!" If a shell had fallen into the room, and commenced its whizzing operations under Valèrie's work-table, it could not have created greater consternation than did my very natural request. The Countess turned deadly pale, and her hand trembled so that she could scarcely hold her needle. Victor rose from his chair with a tremendous oath, and At this instant Valèrie turned round, and walking off to the fireplace (for he was suffiaddressed some trifling observation to her ciently an Englishman to prefer a grate to a brother, but with a warning expression of stove), commenced stirring an already huge countenance that seemed to tell him he had fire with much unnecessary energy, talking been overheard. The next moment we were the whole time as if to drown my unlucky seated round her work-table, chatting as observation. Monsieur Stein flashed one of gaily upon the merits of her embroidery, as his lightning glances-there was no mistakthough we were all the most intimate friends | ing it this time—upon the whole of us, and in the world. Certainly ladies' work promotes conversation of the most harmless and least suspicious description; and I think it would indeed have been difficult to affix a definite meaning to the remarks made by any one of us on the intricacies of Countess Valerie's stitching, or the skill displayed by that lady in her graceful and feminine employment. then relapsed into his previous composure; whilst I felt that I had committed some unpardonable gaucherie, but could not, for the life of me, discover how or why. It was hopeless that evening to make any more attempts at conversation. Even the guest seemed to think he had exerted himself sufficiently, and at an earlier hour than usual we retired for the night. When I came down next morning, he was gone. Victor did not appear at breakfast, and Valèrie's excuses for her brother were delivered with a degree of restraint and formality which made me feel very uncomfort The evening dragged on. Monsieur Stein conversed freely on the state of the country, the condition of the peasantry, the plans of the Government, and a projected railroad, for the construction of which he did not seem to think it possible the Austrian ex-able. chequer would ever be able to pay. Victor "Victor was busy," she said, "with the listened, and scarcely spoke; Valèrie seemed steward and the land-agent. He had a great interested in the railway, and determined to deal to do; he would not be at leisure forpursue that subject as long as possible; hours, but he would see me before he started whilst I sat, out of spirits, and, truth to on his journey." tell, out of humor, a silent observer of all three. I was deprived of my habitual occupations, and missed the care and interest to which I was accustomed as an invalid. Valèrie did not make my tea for me as usual, nor explain to me, for the hundredth time, the cunning splendor of her embroidery, nor ask for my assistance in the thousand trifling ways with which a woman makes you fancy you are essential to her comfort; DCXCI. LIVING AGE. VOL. XVIII. 31 "Journey! said 1; "what journey. does he mean to take? and what is all this mystery and confusion? Pardon me, Count ess Valèrie, I am a straightforward man, Victor is my oldest friend, and I do claim to be in the secret, if I can be of any assistance · or comfort to you in anything." She looked at me once more with the frank, confiding look that reminded mase of another; and putting her hand in mine, she | Vienna. said It was a Honyàdy that first resisted the oppression of Austrian despotism. "I know we can trust you; I know I It was a Honyàdy that shed the last drop of can trust you. Victor is compromised; he noble blood spilt in our late struggle for inmust go to Vienna to clear himself. He has dependence. The finest of our operas is yesterday received a hint that amounts indeed to an order. We are not even free to live on our own lands," she added, bitterly, and with the old gleam of defiance flashing over her features, "the proudest noble in Hungary is but a serf after all." "And Monsieur Stein?" I asked, for I was beginning to penetrate the mystery. founded on the history of this devoted family, and the Honyàdy march is the very gathering tune of all who hate the iron yoke under which we groan. Only look at the faces of a Hungarian audience as they listen to its forbidden tones-for it must now only be played in secret-and you will comprehend why, of all the airs that ever were composed, the last you should have asked for in the presence of Monsieur Stein was the march in The Honyàdy."" Though I can be of little use; my presence may be some comfort and amusement to him; besides, the very fact of my proceeding straight into the lion's mouth will show that I have not been staying here with any ulterior views." "Is an agent of police," she replied, "and one of the cleverest in the Emperor's service. Did you remark how civil we were forced to be to him? Did you not notice I do truly regret my indiscretion," was Victor's constrained and uncomfortable my reply; "but if Victor is compelled to manner ? Whilst he remained, that man go to Vienna, I shall certainly accompany was our master-that low-born spy our him. It is not my practice to abandon a master! This is what we have come to. friend, and such a friend, in his distress. His mission was understood plainly enough by both of us. He came with a hint from the Emperor that we were very remiss in our attendance at Court; that his Imperial Majesty valued our loyalty too much to doubt its sincerity; and that it would be better, all things considered, if we were to "You are indeed true as steel," replied spend the winter at Vienna. Also, I doubt Valèrie, with a frank, honest smile that not, information was required as to what went straight to my heart. "We will all our English friend was about; and when it start together this very afternoon; and I am is reported-as reported it will be-that his glad at least it is far better-that you musical taste leads him to admire the should not be parted from your nurse till you march in the Honyàdy,' why we shall prob- are quite strong again. Your ably be put under surveillance' for six be a great comfort to my brother, who is months, and be obliged to reside in the Valèrie hesitated, blushed up to capital for a year or two, till we have got her forehead, and added, abruptly, thoroughly Austrianized, when we shall Egerton, have you not remarked any differ return here, feeling our degradation more ence in Victor lately?" bitterly than ever." "And why may I not consult my own taste in music?" I inquired; "or what is there so deadly in that beautiful march which you play with such brilliancy and spirit?" Valèrie laughed. will I replied that "I thought his spirits were less mercurial than formerly, but that probably he had the anticipation of yesterday's domiciliary visit hanging over him, which would at once account for any amount of discontent and depression." 66 No, it is not that," answered Valèrie, "Do you not know," said she, "that the with increasing embarrassment. "It is Honyadys were nearly connected with our worse even than that. My poor Victor! I ancestors-that the De Rohans, originally know him so well-I love him so much! Norman, only became Hungarian through and he is breaking his noble heart for one their alliance with that princely family-a who is totally unworthy of him. If there is race who were never found wanting when it one being on earth that I hate and despise was necessary to assert the independence of more than another, it is a coquette," added their country? It was a Honyàdy that the girl, with flashing eyes; rolled the Turks back from the very gates of is so wanting in womanly pride as to lay 66 a woman who 1 own nature as to despise it when it is won.' herself out for admiration-so false to her she burst forth. You do not think as you speak. You are a dishonest reasoner, and you try to impose upon me! I tell you, you are the last man in the world to hold such opinions. You are wrong, and you know you are wrong, and you only speak thus to provoke me. I judge of others by myself. I believe that all of us are more or less alike, and I know that I could never forgive such an injury. What! to be led on day by day, to feel if not to confess a preference, to find it bit by bit eating into one's being, till at length one belongs no longer to oneself, but knows one's whole existence to be wrapped up in another, and then at the last moment to discover that one has been deceived! that one has been giving gold for silver! that the world is empty, and the heart dead for ever! I know what I should do." She darted a reproachful look at me from I never found Valèrie so charming as when "Do you not think, Valèrie, you are "You do not know Victor, if you say so," "What would you do?" I asked, half amused and half alarmed at her excited gestures. "Take a De Rohan's revenge, if I broke my heart for it the next instant," she replied; and then, as if ashamed of her enthusiasm, and the passion into which she had very unnecessarily put herself, rushed from the room. "What a dangerous lady to have anything to do with," I remarked to Bold, as he rose from the hearth-rug with a stretch and a yawn. 'Well, old dog,, so you and I are bound for Vienna this afternoon; I wonder what will come of it all?" Yet there was a certain pleasant excitement about my position, too. It was evident that Valèrie took more than a common interest in her brother's friend. Her temper had become very variable of late; and I had remarked that although, until the scene in the garden, she had never shunned my society, she had often appeared provoked at any expression of opinion which I chanced to hazard contrary to her own. She had also of late been constantly absent, distraite, and preoccupied, sometimes causelessly satirical, bitter, and even rude, in her remarks. What could it all mean? was I playing with edged tools? It might be so. Never mind, never mind, Bold; anything, anything, for excitement and forgetfulness of the days gone by. EVERY one has heard of the gentleman who wrap yourself up in your truly British went to spend a fortnight at Vienna in the reserve, they will salute you when they prime of his youth, and died there at a ripe depart; and people may say what they will old age, having never afterwards been be- about the humbug and insincerity of mere yond the walls of the town. Though the politeness, but there can be no doubt that climate is allowed to be detestable, the heat such graceful amenities help to oil the wheels of summer being aggravated by a paucity of of life. Then if you like to walk, have you shade and a superabundance of dust, whilst not the Prater, with its fine old trees and the rigorous cold of winter is enhanced by magnificent red-deer, and its endless range of the absence of fireplaces and the scarcity of woodland scenery, reminding you of your fuel; though the streets are narrow and the own Windsor forest at home; if you wish to carriages numerous, the hotels always full drive, there is much beautiful country in and the shops very dear; though the police the immediate vicinity of the town, or would is strict and officious to a degree, and its you prefer a quiet chat in the friendly intiregulations tyrannical in the extreme; macy of a morning visit, the Viennese ladies though every house, private as well as pub- are the most conversational and the most lic, must be closed at ten o'clock, and a hospitable in the world. Then you dine at ball-giver or lady who "receives" must half-past five, because the opera begins at have a special permission from the Govern- seven, and with such a band who would miss ment, yet with all these drawbacks, no the overture? Again you enter a brilliant, city in the world, not even lively Paris well-lighted apartment, gay with wellitself, seems so popular with pleasure-seekers dressed women and Austrian officers in their as Vienna. There is a gaiety in the very handsome uniforms, all full of politeness, air of the town: a smiling, prosperous good- bonhommie, and real kindness towards a humor visible on the countenances of its in- stranger. Perhaps you occupy the next habitants, a picturesque beauty in the table to Meyerbeer, and you are more rehouses, a splendid comfort in the shops, and solved than ever not to be too late. At seven a taste and magnificence in the public you enjoy the harmony of the blessed, at a buildings, which form a most attractive moderate outlay that would hardly pay for tout-ensemble. your entrance half-price to a farce in a London theatre, and at ten o'clock your day is over, and you may seek your couch. Then you lead a pleasant, cheerful donothing sort of life; you have your coffee in bed, where you can also read a novel in per- I confess I liked Vienna very much. My fect comfort, for German beds have no cur- intimacy with Victor gave me at once an intains to intercept the morning light, or make troduction into society, and my old acquainta bonfire of the nocturnal student. You ance with the German language made me perform an elaborate toilette (are not Vienna feel thoroughly at home amongst these frank gloves the only good fits in the world?), and and warm-hearted people. It has always you breakfast about noon in the salon of appeared to me that there is more homely of some luxurious hotel, where you may sit kindliness, more heart, and less straining peradventure between an Austrian Field- after effect in German society than in any Marshal, decorated with a dozen or so of other with which I am acquainted. People orders, and a Polish beauty, who counts are less artificial in Vienna than in Paris or captives by the hundred, and breaks hearts by in London, better satisfied to be taken for Neither will think it necessary what they really are, and not what they to avoid your neighborhood as if you had wish to be, more tolerant of confluent small-pox, and your eye as if you less occupied about themselves. were a basilisk, simply because you have not I spent my days very happily. Victor had had advantage of their previous acquaint- recovered his spirits, those constitutional ance. On the contrary, should the cour- good spirits that in the young it requires so ⚫tesies of the table or any chance occurrence much suffering to damp, that once lost never lead you to hazard a remark, you will find return again. Valèrie was charming as the warrior mild and benevolent, the beauty ever, it may be a little more reserved than frank and unaffected. Even should you formerly, but all the more kind and consid the score. strangers, and "It is my favorite picture of all I ever saw, except one," I remarked to my two companions as we stopped to examine its merits: I to point out its beauties, they maliciously to enumerate its defects. erate on that account; then when I wearied with an expression of unspeakable tenderof society and longed for solitude and the ness and self-abandonment, such as comes indulgence of my own reflections, could I but once in a lifetime over woman's face. not pace those glorious galleries of ancient One drooping hand carelessly lets an arrow art, and feast my eyes upon the masterpieces slip through its fingers, the other fondling a of Rubens or Franceschini, in the Hotel rosy Cupid on her knee, presses his cheek Liechtenstein and the Belvedere? My against her own, as though the love overfather's blood ran in my veins, and although flowing at her heart must needs find relief in I had always lacked execution to become a the caresses of her child. painter, keenly and dearly could I appreciate the excellencies of the divine art. Ah! those Rubenses, I can see them now! the glorious atheletic proportions of the men, heroes and champions every one; the soft, sensuous beauty of the women,-none of your angels, or goddesses, or idealities, but, better still, warm, breathing, loving, palpable women, the energy of action, the majesty of repose, the drawing, the coloring, but above all the honest manly sentiment that pervades every picture. The direct intention 80 truthfully carried out to bid the human form and the human face express the passions and the feelings of the human heart. could look at them for hours. "And that other?" asked Valèrie, with her quick, sharp glance. "Is one you never saw, was my reply, as I thought of "the Dido" in the old dining-room at Beverley "It is an Italian painting with many faults, and probably you would not admire it as much as I do." Valèrie was not listening; her attention was fixed on a party of strangers at the other end of the room. "Tenez, ce sont des Anglais," said she, with that intuitive perValèrie used to laugh at me for what she ception of an islander which seems born in called my new passion-my devotion to art; all Continental nations. I knew it before the goddess whom I had so neglected in my she spoke. The party stopped and turned childhood, when with my father's assistance round-two gentlemen and a lady. I only I might have wooed and won from her some saw her; of all the faces, animate and inaniscraps of favor and encouragement. One mate, that looked downward with smiles, or morning I prevailed on Victor and his sister upward with admiration, in that crowded to accompany me to the Hotel Liechtenstein, gallery, there was but one to me, and that there to inspect for the hundredth time what one was Constance Beverley. the Countess termed my "last and fatal attachment," a Venus and Adonis of Franceschini, before which I could have spent many a long day, quenching the thirst of the eye. It was in my opinion the chefd'œuvre of the master; and yet taking it as a whole, there was no doubt it was far from a faultlessly-painted picture. The Adonis appeared to me stiffly and unskilfully drawn, as he lay stretched in slumber, with his leash of hounds, undisturbed by the nymphs peering at him from behind a tree, or the fat golden-haired Cupids playing on the turf at his feet. All this part of the picture I fancied cold and hard; but it was the Venus herself that seemed to me the impersonation of womanly beauty and womanly love. Emerging from a cloud, with her blue draperies defining the rounded symmetry of of her form, and leaving one exquisite foot bare, she is gazing on the prostrate hunter I have a confused recollection of much hand-shaking and " How-do-you-do's?" and many expressions of wonder at our meeting there, of all places in the world, which did not strike me as so very extraordinary after all. And Valèrie was so enchanted to make Miss Beverley's acquaintance; she had heard so much of her from Victor, and it was 80 delightful they should all be together in Vienna just at this gay time; and was as affectionate and demonstrative as woman always is with her sister; and at the same time scanned her with a comprehensive glance, which seemed to take in at once the charms of mind and body, the graces of nature and art, that constituted the weapons of her competitor. For women are always more or less rivals; and with all her keenness of affections and natural softness of disposition, there is an unerring instinct implanted in the breast of every one of the gentler sex |