look like Cinderella and the fairy godmother! I am sure they both lived
at Sigmundskron--and Greif will be the Prince Charmant with his Puss in
Boots--quite a Lohengrin in fact--dear me! I am afraid I am mixing them
up--those old German myths are so confusing, and I am quite beside
myself with the joy of seeing you!'

Greifenstein stood looking on, not a muscle of his face betraying the
slightest emotion at his wife's incoherent speech. But Greif had turned
away and appeared to be examining one of the guns that stood in a rack
against the wall. The meeting had taken place in the great hall, and he
was glad that there was something to look at, for he did not know
whether he was most amused by his mother's chatter, or ashamed of the
ridiculous figure she made. The impression was certainly a painful one,
and he had not attained to his father's grim indifference, for he was
not obliged to assist daily at such scenes. He could not help comparing
Hilda's mother with his own, and he inwardly determined that when he
was married he would take up his abode at Sigmundskron during the
greater part of the year.

Hilda looked at her hostess and wondered whether all women of the world
were like Frau von Greifenstein. The situation did not last long,
however, and half an hour later she found herself sitting beside Greif
on a block of stone by the ruined Hunger-Thurm.

'At last!' exclaimed Greif, with a sigh of satisfaction. 'Is there
anything so tiresome as the sight of affectionate greetings?'

'Greif--' Hilda paused, as though reconsidering the question she was
about to ask.