parting Greif ever remembered. The day was cloudy and a soft wind was
making melancholy music among the grand old trees. Their own voices had
sounded discordant and out of tune, and the words that might have
expressed what they felt would not be found, and perhaps were not
needed.

But when the last minute was come the whole party went out together to
the gate where the carriage was standing. Greif found himself with
Hilda, separated for a moment from the rest. She laid her hand upon his
arm and spoke in a low voice.

'Something evil is going to happen to you, Greif,' she said. There was
something in the accents that chilled him, but he tried to smile.

'I hope not, sweetheart,' he answered.

'I am sure of it,' said Hilda in a tone of conviction. 'I cannot tell
why--only, remember, whatever happens--it will be something terrible--I
shall always love you--always, always.'

The others came up, and her voice sank to a whisper as she repeated the
last word. Greif looked anxiously into her face, and saw that she was
pale, and that her flashing blue eyes were veiled and dim. He was
startled, for he had never seen such a change in her before. But there
was no time for words. He whispered a loving answer, but she seemed not
to hear his words as she stood against the huge rough masonry of the
gate, gazing down the drive in the direction of the Hunger-Thurm. As he
was driven rapidly away, he looked back and waved his hat. The others
had stepped forward upon the pavement on one side of the gate, but
Hilda had not moved. Then as the turn of the road was about to hide the