“At present his friendship need not be taxed, for none but my parents, my sister, and thou, Adelheid, are acquainted with the facts I have just related.  My poor sister is an artless, but an unhappy girl, for the well-intentioned design of our mother has greatly disqualified her from bearing the truth, as she might have done, had it been kept constantly before her eyes.  To the world, a young kinsman of my father appears destined to succeed him, and there the matter must stand until fortune shall decide differently.  As respects my poor sister, there is some little hope that the evil may be altogether averted.  She is on the point of a marriage here at Vevey, that may be the means of concealing her origin in new ties.  As for me, time must decide my fate.”

“Why should the truth be ever known!” exclaimed Adelheid, nearly gasping for breath, in her eagerness to propose some expedient that should rescue Sigismund for ever from so odious an office.

“Thou sayest that there are ample means in thy family—­relinquish all to this youth, on condition that he assume thy place!”

“I would gladly beggar myself to be quit of it—­”

“Nay, thou wilt not be a beggar while there is wealth among the de Willadings.  Let the final decision, in respect to other things, be what it may, this can we at least promise!”

“My sword will prevent me from being under the necessity of accepting the boon thou wouldst offer.  With this good sword I can always command an honorable existence, should Providence save me from the disgrace of exchanging it for that of the executioner.  But there exists an obstacle of which thou hast not yet heard.  My sister, who has certainly no admiration for the honors that have humiliated our race for so many generations—­I might say ages—­have we not ancient honors, Adelheid, as well as thou?—­my sister is contracted to one who bargains for eternal secrecy on this point, as the condition of his accepting the hand and ample dowry of one of the gentlest of human beings!  Thou seest that others are not as generous as thyself, Adelheid!  My father, anxious to dispose of his child, has consented to the terms and as the youth who is next in succession to the family-honors is little disposed to accept them, and has already some suspicion of the deception as respects her, I may be compelled to appear in order to protect the offspring of my unoffending sister from the curse.”

This was assailing Adelheid in a point where she was the weakest.  One of her generous temperament and self-denying habits could scarce entertain the wish of exacting that from another which she was not willing to undergo herself, and the hope that had just been reviving in her heart was nearly extinguished by the discovery.  Still she was so much in the habit of feeling under the guidance of her excellent sense, and it was so natural to cling to her just wishes, while there was a reasonable chance of their being accomplished, that she did not despair.