“This information was quite enough to raise an interest in my father’s heart.  He remembered his own escape:  he remembered the loss of his wife’s honour, and the tragedy by which it was wound up.  He immediately, and warmly, offered all the assistance which he could afford them.

“‘There is no time to be lost, then, good sir,’ observed the horseman; ’my daughter is chilled with the frost, and cannot hold out much longer against the severity of the weather.’

“‘Follow me,’ replied my father, leading the way towards his home.

“‘I was lured away in pursuit of a large white wolf,’ observed my father; ’it came to the very window of my hut, or I should not have been out at this time of night.’

“‘The creature passed by us just as we came out of the wood,’ said the female in a silvery tone.

“I was nearly discharging my piece at it,’ observed the hunter; ’but since it did us such good service, I am glad that I allowed it to escape.’

“In about an hour and a half, during which my father walked at a rapid pace, the party arrived at the cottage, and, as I said before, came in.

“‘We are in good time, apparently,’ observed the dark hunter, catching the smell of the roasted meat, as he walked to the fire and surveyed my brother and sister, and myself.  ’You have young cooks here, Mynheer.’  ‘I am glad that we shall not have to wait,’ replied my father.  ’Come, mistress, seat yourself by the fire; you require warmth after your cold ride.’  ‘And where can I put up my horse, Mynheer?’ observed the huntsman.’  ‘I will take care of him,’ replied my father, going out of the cottage door.

“The female must, however, be particularly described.  She was young, and apparently twenty years of age.  She was dressed in a travelling dress, deeply bordered with white fur, and wore a cap of white ermine on her head.  Her features were very beautiful, at least I thought so, and so my father has since declared.  Her hair was flaxen, glossy and shining, and bright as a mirror; and her mouth, although somewhat large when it was open, showed the most brilliant teeth I have ever beheld.  But there was something about her eyes, bright as they were, which made us children afraid; they were so restless, so furtive; I could not at that time tell why, but I felt as if there was cruelty in her eye; and when she beckoned us to come to her, we approached her with fear and trembling.  Still she was beautiful, very beautiful.  She spoke kindly to my brother and myself, patted our heads, and caressed us; but Marcella would not come near her; on the contrary, she slunk away, and hid herself in the bed, and would not wait for the supper, which half an hour before she had been so anxious for.

“My father, having put the horse into a close shed, soon returned, and supper was placed upon the table.  When it was over, my father requested that the young lady would take possession of his bed, and he would remain at the fire, and sit up with her father.  After some hesitation on her part, this arrangement was agreed to, and I and my brother crept into the other bed with Marcella, for we had as yet always slept together.