The next day, the young gentleman proceeded to enroll himself in the corps of Archers of the Prince of Cleves, and with him came his attached squire, who vowed he never would leave him.  As Otto threw aside his own elegant dress, and donned the livery of the House of Cleves, the noble Childe sighed not a little.  ’Twas a splendid uniform ’tis true, but still it was a livery, and one of his proud spirit ill bears another’s cognizances.  “They are the colors of the Princess, however,” said he, consoling himself; “and what suffering would I not undergo for her?” As for Wolfgang, the squire, it may well be supposed that the good-natured, low-born fellow had no such scruples; but he was glad enough to exchange for the pink hose, the yellow jacket, the pea-green cloak, and orange-tawny hat, with which the Duke’s steward supplied him, the homely patched doublet of green which he had worn for years past.

“Look at you two archers,” said the Prince of Cleves to his guest, the Rowski of Donnerblitz, as they were strolling on the battlements after dinner, smoking their cigars as usual.  His Highness pointed to our two young friends, who were mounting guard for the first time.  “See yon two bowmen—­mark their bearing!  One is the youth who beat thy Squintoff, and t’other, an I mistake not, won the third prize at the butts.  Both wear the same uniform—­the colors of my house—­yet wouldst not swear that the one was but a churl, and the other a noble gentleman?”

“Which looks like the nobleman?” said the Rowski, as black as thunder.

“Which? why, young Otto, to be sure,” said the Princess Helen, eagerly.  The young lady was following the pair; but under pretence of disliking the odor of the cigar, she had refused the Rowski’s proffered arm, and was loitering behind with her parasol.

Her interposition in favor of her young protege only made the black and jealous Rowski more ill-humored.  “How long is it, Sir Prince of Cleves,” said he, “that the churls who wear your livery permit themselves to wear the ornaments of noble knights?  Who but a noble dare wear ringlets such as yon springald’s?  Ho, archer!” roared he, “come, hither, fellow.”  And Otto stood before him.  As he came, and presenting arms stood respectfully before the Prince and his savage guest, he looked for one moment at the lovely Helen—­their eyes met, their hearts beat simultaneously:  and, quick, two little blushes appeared in the cheek of either.  I have seen one ship at sea answering another’s signal so.

While they are so regarding each other, let us just remind our readers of the great estimation in which the hair was held in the North.  Only nobles were permitted to wear it long.  When a man disgraced himself, a shaving was sure to follow.  Penalties were inflicted upon villains or vassals who sported ringlets.  See the works of Aurelius Tonsor; Hirsutus de Nobilitate Capillari; Rolandus de Oleo Macassari; Schnurrbart; Fresirische Alterthumskunde, &c.