And noble —the noblest of the noble ! 'Tis said he owns estates as big as all Suabia !'' [ Repeating the same littlo story iv almost tho same words, Frau Krcutzmann went round among her guests ; whereupon each plump Prau in succession held up her hands, opened her eyes as wido as possible, and (varying tho ejaculation more or less profanely) exclaimed :— "Acb, Himmel! You don't say so, Cousin Lisbethl— A Herr Baron! And what is his most high lordship's name and title?' To which FrauKreutzmanu, with as near an approach to the English as her tongue could frame, replied :— ''The Herr Baron, Lord Brankeuburg." The younger guests were even more in terested and more inquisitive than their elders. The giils gathered round Kiitchen and Brenda, asked innumerable questions, and listened open-mouthed to all that was fold them. Had the Herr Baron a Castle in England ? Why was ho not in uniform ? Why did ho wear no ribbons or decorations' Was.the beautiful Fraiilein also noble ? Had she " the florins ?" Was she fond of him Did he adore her? When were they to be married ? Most interesting of all was tho fact that those illustrious strangers were but just engaged. " It in aromaucc I" sigheda stout damsel, whoso two long plaits of magniliccit flaxen

hair hung down her back, tied wiih bin. ribbons. " But will there be ;no betrothal, feast? No cards ? No announcement in rli» Court 'Zcituog?'" "c To which Kiitchen and Brenda replied that the Herr Baron and Fraiilein Winifred wished their engagement to be as private as possible ; that, in fact, the Herr Baron was going back to England ai the end of tbe week. It was strictly a family party, and con sisted ot relations only. There was the Pastor's only brother, who kept a school at Wcilliciru, and there were Frau Krentz. mann's three married sisters with their .husbands and families; to say nothing of 'half-a-dozen maiden aunts, besides nephews nieces, and cousins innumerable. Most of these good folks were farmers from the neighbourhood of Partenkircho and the Walchensec ; one or two were timber merchants; but the most important pcraonage of the family waa a certain great uncle, who was a brewer and burgomaster of Stambcrg, and who was reputed to be worth a hundred thousand florins. 