left of the door passed the "German Empire Post-Office," with its bright blue letter-box- passed a small deserted Platz - passed a long, low Restauration, with a gravelled space in front for chairs and tables, and a vine-covered arbor at each corner, where several people were drink ing beer. As soon as they had cleared the village, they turned into the avenue of walnut-trees, which had no gate or fence, and the next moment were rattling over the pavement of a small court, enclosed on three sides by the centre and projecting wings of the old solid stone house; narrow flower-beds ran along the walls, and at the end of the east wing was an arbor covered with luxuriant greenery.

The large front door, which was ornamented by a heavy pediment and much incoherent carving of the Renaissance order, stood open; and just within it were three ladies, while a rosy-cheeked maidservant a marvellous conglomeration of towy-looking plaits twined round her head, and a grin of delight on her broad face occupied an advanced post on the steps. Grace observed, too, that the door was framed in a thick green wreath, studded with bright blossoms; and above it was the word Willkommen in white letters on a red ground. It was written in the Latin character, and near enough to English to suggest pleasant ideas. A great whity-brown, rough dog sat with almost judicial gravity on the lowest step; but no sooner had Count Costello alighted, than ladies, Dienstmädchen, and dog flew upon him, and vociferous tongues hailed him.

"Ach Gott! thou art welcome, thou best of fathers!" "Welcome! thou beloved grandfather!" cried the ladies, clinging round him in a bunch.

"God be thanked, you have returned to us safe, Herr Graf!" exclaimed the servant, kissing his hand; while the dog added a hoarse, jubilant bark to the general chorus.

The taller of the two young ladies was the first to disengage herself and approach Grace, who had descended from the carriage, and stood back a little, contemplating the scene with sympathetic eyes.

"But, mother," she said, "we are forgetting the cousin," and, taking Grace's hand with a smile, first dropped a curtsey, and then kissed her brow kindly.

"I am very pleased to receive you, my dear, and hope to make you happy while you are our guest. You are indeed welcome!" said Frau Alvsleben in very fair

French, and embracing her young kinswoman.

"Here is your eldest cousin Gertrud; and this is my little Frieda. Come in come in, my good father; come, my child! You must want rest and refreshment after your long journey."

So saying, she took Grace's hand and led her into the house, followed by the count, on whose arms both his granddaughters hung; the rear brought up by the red-cheeked servant, loaded with bags, parcels, and the minor etceteras of travel.

Crossing a wide, flagged hall, decorated by a couple of deer's heads and antlers, hung with wreaths of wild flowers and at one side of which was a broad oaken stair, Frau Alvsleben conducted her guest into a large dining-room.

The un-English aspect of this apartment struck Grace on entering. True, there were tables, chairs, curtains, and a sideboard, which sounds like any diningroom from the Land's End to "John o' Groat's house." But the absence of small, ornamental articles, the carpetless parquet, gave a look of bareness and heaviness almost depressing.

The walls were painted in panels, grey shading off to white, with pale blue centres above the dado, which was of oak; the furniture was of oak also, but darker, and shining with the vigorous rubbing of years. In two corners were étagères, on which were scattered books, papers, mineralogical specimens, the miscellany which collect in a general living-room. The sofa and easy-chairs were covered in red leather, much dimmed and rubbed by time and use; other chairs were cane-bottomed, with high backs of rough open carving in nearly black wood.

A tall circular stove of white tiles, fixed on a block of stone and surmounted by a vase or urn, was at one side of the room, and three windows at the other: from the centre one of which was suspended a birdcage with a canary, over a wicker-work stand of plants.

The large windows and lace curtains did not do much to counterbalance the sombre effect of the dark furniture and a huge buffet with shelves, drawers, and cupboards which faced the door, and was decorated with numerous green and white silver-topped beer-beakers, and a wire basket of flowers.

A tall, elderly woman, with a strong, weather-beaten face, stood just within the threshold. She wore a dark, stuff dress, a white bib-apron, and a Haube, or species

of muslin mob-cap, with a lace-edged border standing up round it.

She greeted the new-comers with loud exclamations, and kissed the count's hand. He spoke kindly with her before placing himself at table, which was spread with various small dishes of sliced cold meat, cold partridge, green and potato salad, with fruit compote, black bread, and Brödchen, equivalent to petits pains, all set out in china of unfamiliar shapes.

Frau Alvsleben and her daughters pressed the travellers to eat with hospitable warmth; while the elderly female above-mentioned, who seemed to be a housekeeper and was called Mamsell, after a short disappearance, returned with two large cups of bouillon, which was very acceptable to the new-comers.

Count Costello and his daughter conversed eagerly and noisily in German, with much gesticulation on his part, both evidently engrossed in the topics under discussion.

Frieda meantime did the honors of the table to Grace, and Gertrud went to and fro between the table and the buffet, fetching spoons or forks, or passing round the Rhein wine, in which, with much clinking of glasses and hand-shaking, Frau Alvsleben drank every one's health. "And you have never left England before no?" asked Frieda in English, as she handed the compote to her new cous

Grace rose, and with her Frau Alvsleben.

"Oh, the mother can stay-stay, dear mother. We will conduct you, my cousin," said Fräulein Alvsleben.

"Yes, you young things go together!" cried the count, and then addressed his daughter, who resumed her seat.

Pray call me Grace; I shall feel a stranger if you do not,” said our heroine, smiling.

"Natürlich, yes; you must not be strange-you who are of our race! " cried Gertrud, drawing her cousin's arm through her own, and walking with her down the room and past the centre window. Grace had sat with her back to it at table, so now perceived, for the first time, that it commanded a view of a large yard, surrounded by irregular buildings of various heights, and occupied in the centre by a huge, oblong heap, enclosed by stout posts and rails, and of a rich brown color, diversified by the straw, green branchlets, and big, whitish cabbage leaves strewn upon it. Looking back, too, at the table, she first noted distinctly the aspect of her newly-found relations.

Frau Alvsleben was a large woman, who looked as if she was superior to the restraints of stays and whalebone. She was in black, with a large, black silk flounced apron and bib, to defend her dress against all exigencies. She had fine eyes, but a somewhat coarse mouth, deficient teeth, grey hair, and a skin prematurely wrinkled for her years. Her head was covered by a three-cornered handkerchief of black lace, one point of which was raised at the back by a high comb, while the other two were tied loosely under her chin; large hands, which looked as if they did good service, and an eager, anxious expression, completed the picture impressed on Grace's mind's eye.

Frieda

The two young ladies were not like each other. The eldest was rather squareshouldered and short-necked, with a huge pile of plaits and curls on her head; a broad face, with a dull, thick complexion, and light-blue, watchful eyes. was taller, slighter, and more graceful. She, too, wore her hair in a profusion of coils, curls, and plaits; but the hair itself was of a pretty, bright brown tinge, closely resembling her English cousin's: she had also fine, dark eyes, like her grandfather's, a very fair skin and deli cate color, and a mouth rather like her sister's, only softer and kindlier. Both

Grace was gratified by the frank cordiality with which both sisters received her, but she was especially attracted by something congenial in Frieda.

The three girls ascended the stair, and crossing a large landing or Vorsaal, entered a light and cheerful bedroom-the chocolate-brown floor, pale grey walls, and crisp, fresh white muslin curtains, making a pleasant combination. A small bedstead in a corner (which, as is usual in foreign bed-chambers, seemed an accidental intruder, instead of the chief occupant), a sofa, and a writing-table, with a tolerable square of carpet under it; handsome wardrobes or presses of dark wood, a dressing-table and small looking-glass almost buried in chintz drapery, a large oval glass between the windows; a high iron stove, of a greenish-brownish tint; some cane chairs, and a few fearfully hard oil-paintings composed the furniture and decorations. But on the table were two flower-pots, decorated with cut gold and silver paper, one containing a white azalea, the other a foreign heath - little tokens of welcome, according to the gracious German fashion, with which Grace expressed her delight, and then ran to the window, which looked towards the hills and dark pine woods; for the room was in the eastern wing, and so escaped the farm-yard and the dung-heap.

"What a charming room! and how good you are to welcome me so kindly!" cried Grace, taking a hand of each. “ You cannot think how delightful it is to look out on hills and woods again, after being shut up in London!"

Frieda embraced her on the spot, but Gertrud, smiling, said,

"I only fear it will all seem very poor and and mean to you, after the Pracht - that is, the splendor you are accustomed to in England."

"But I have not been accustomed to splendor," cried Grace, laughing; "do Dot imagine it! I shall enjoy myself immensely here."

"I hope so," said Frieda.

"And now it is the hour of repose; let us leave the dear new cousin to rest. You will be quite refreshed by the time coffee is ready, and then we will help you to unpack."

She cast a longing look at Grace's large

Fräulein Alvsleben lingered for a few minutes to point out the convenient hanging-press, the Schreibshrank (bureau), and commode (chest of drawers), all of which were empty and ready for her use.

At last Grace was alone, and free to think her own thoughts. First she opened the door-like windows wide, and stood there drinking in the delicious air, the (to her) home-like look of hills and woods. Yet even nature, in a foreign landscape, has in it something unfamiliar. Something in the coloring, something indefinable in the pleasant odor of the warm air, kept up the sense of strangeness, but a strangeness she no longer dreaded. The simple kindness of her reception, the absence of all pretension, set her at ease. Here was nothing formidable, no harsh, contemptuous criticism to be dreaded. She longed to describe it all to the dear mother, and make her share the agreeable impression she had received.

After another scrutinizing look round her room, and a fruitless search for a bell, she set forth her writing materials, and placing herself on the sofa beside the writing-table, began her letter; but soon she paused, and leant back to think and select, out of the abundant stores of incident which her travels supplied, what was most worthy of record. The sofa was comfortable, the evening warm, and a monotonous clack, clack, from some machine in the farm-yard lulled her off to sleep, and she slept profoundly.

The light was beginning to lose its golden tinge, when she was roused by the entrance of Frieda, who carried a small tray, on which was a coffee-service of beautifully painted china.

"Ah, you have had a good sleep! I knocked twice on the door, and then I peeped in, and you were deeply asleep. So I left you. And now I bring your coffee; we have already drunk ours, though the dear grandpapa slept long also. Will you, please, take sugar and milk?"

"Oh, thank you!" exclaimed Grace, sitting up, and rubbing her eyes. "How good you are! Have I slept long? What o'clock is it?"

"It is nearly five o'clock, and we have our Abendbrod (supper) at half-seven. How do you call it?-half after six? Still, we shall have time to arrange all your Sachen-your things first. will let me help you? Ach, Gott in Him

You

felt inclined to laugh, and from an irresistible sense of fun made him a deep, solemn curtsey, which appeared to her Saxon relatives all that it ought to be. But the count held out his hand, and she sprang to his side; it was quite delightful to meet him after all these hours.

"And are you as fresh as a rose, my darling? Begad! we have both slept it out, and you look all the better! Come and sit here between Theresia and my self; we'll let Sturm have a sight of you from over the way; it's not every day he sees an English Fräulein."

So saying, the count placed her between his daughter and himself, while Gertrud took the foot of the table, and Frieda a seat to her left.

"Mr. Sturm, he speak very good English - yes," said Gertrud, as she began to distribute the potatoes.

"I spik a leetle, var leetle," returned Herr Sturm, with profound solemnity; "but shall be var glad to exercise my self."

"It is quite wonderful," exclaimed Grace, with genuine surprise, "that you all speak so well, when you can only have learned from books! I suppose you seldom speak with my uncle?"

"Not often, indeed," said Frieda, laughing; "the dear grandfather does not like my English."

"Faith! I cannot stand hearing my own tongue mangled," he returned.

"Now you have come," resumed Frieda, addressing Grace, we shall do well." "But I am most eager to learn German, and I hope you will help me."

Ja, gewiss-certainly," cried Frieda; we will begin to-morrow. Herr Sturm has a quantity of books-lessonbooks to learn English with, and-and we can turn them round, you know. Is it not so, Herr Sturm? you will give us your English lesson-books for the Fräulein ?"

Herr Sturm, whose mouth was full of sausage and potato, nearly choked himself in his haste to assure the young ladies that all he possessed was at their service, an effort from which he did not recover till after copious draughts of beer.

an odd singing accent, and with a guttural fluency which surprised Grace, as she thought him too shy for such an undertaking. She longed to understand what he said, for there was a good deal of it, and the count nodded approbation at intervals. At the end, Frau Alvsleben, the speaker, and the daughters of the house cried "Hoch!" with much energy, and every one jumped up and ran round to clink their glasses against the count's, the young ladies and their mother kissing him at the same time, and uttering exclamations of evident endearment.

After this excitement, the evening meal progressed serenely; all were most kindly attentive to their young guest, who, after refusing Wurst, uncooked ham, and herring salad, supped well on excellent cold roast-pork, sour gherkin, and hot mealy potatoes.

"I see you have already begun to sow the Wintersaat," said the old general, after looking round as if in search of something, which something was supplied by Frieda, who handed him his cigar-case and matches.

"Yes," returned his daughter, "the harvest has been fine and early. Herr Sturm has had his hands full."

"Good!" said the old man, taking the cigar from his lips.

"We have narrowly escaped a misfortune, however," remarked Sturm. "The young brown horse, which you considered so valuable, got into the clover field one day, when all were busy reaping, and we thought he would have burst. We had the Thierarzt (veterinary surgeon) from Zittau, and he did nothing; but an old shepherd from Hain cured him."

"I don't believe in old shepherds," said the count, puffing argumentatively. "A veterinary surgeon must know more." "I only know -began Herr Sturm, when Frau Alvsleben interrupted.

"It matters not; but I have still better news, Vaterchen. My nephew, Falkenberg, has exchanged into the Zittauer regiment, and by his help we have got the Lieferungs Contract (supply) for oats and potatoes to the garrison it will be some three or four hundred thalers in our pocket. Wolff is a love-worthy being after all-he is quite steady now. has paid most of his debts. I have asked him to come here to hunt."

He