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The young Baron von Stalkenberg； who was only styled young in contradistinction to his father； being in his forty…first year； was famous for a handsome person； and for his passionate love of the chase： of wild boars and wolves he was the deadly enemy。 The Count Otto von Stalkenberg； eleven years his brother's junior； was famous for nothing but his fiercely…ringed moustache； a habit of eating； and an undue addiction to draughts of Marcobrunen。 Somewhat meager fare； so report ran； was the fashion in the Castle of Stalkenbergneither the old baron nor his heir cared for luxury； therefore Count von Otto was sure to be seen at the /table d' hote/ as often as anybody would invite him； and that was nearly every day； for the Count von Stalkenberg was a high…sounding title； and his baronial father； proprietor of all Stalkenberg； lorded it in the baronial castle close by； all of which appeared very grand and great； and that the English bow down to with an idol's worship。
Stopping at the Ludwig Bad； the chief hotel in the place； was a family of the name of Crosby。 It consisted of Mr。 and Mrs。 Crosby； an only daughter； her governess； and two or three servants。 What Mr。 Crosby had done to England； or England to him； I can't say； but he never went near his native country。 For years and years he had lived abroadnot in any settled place of residence： they would travel about； and remain a year or two in one place； a year or two in another； as the whim suited them。 A respectable； portly man； of quiet and gentlemanly manners； looking as little like one who need be afraid of the laws of his own land as can be。 Neither is it said or insinuated that he was afraid of them。 A gentleman who knew him had told； many years before； in answer to a doubt； that Crosby was as free to go home and establish himself in a mansion in Piccadilly as the best of them。 But he had lost fearfully by some roguish scheme； like the South Sea Bubble； and could not live in the style he once had done； therefore preferred remaining abroad。 Mrs。 Crosby was a pleasant； chatty woman given to take as much gayety as she could get； and Helena Crosby was a remarkably fine grown girl of seventeen。 You might have given her some years on it had you been guessing her age； for she was no child； either in appearance or manners； and never had been。 She was an heiress； too。 An uncle had left her twenty thousand pounds； and at her mother's death she would have ten thousand more。 The Count Otto von Stalkenberg heard of the thirty thousand pounds； and turned his fierce moustache and his eyes on Miss Helena。
〃Thirty thousand pounds and von handsome girls！〃 cogitated he； for he prided himself upon his English。 〃It is just what I have been seeking after。〃
He found the rumor touching her fortune to be correct； and from that time was seldom apart from the Crosbys。 They were as pleased to have his society as he was to be in theirs； for was he not the Count von Stalkenberg？ And the other visitors at Stalkenberg looking on with envy； would have given their ears to be honored with a like intimacy。
One day there thundered down in a vehicle the old Baron von Stalkenberg。 The old chief had come to pay a visit of ceremony to the Crosbys。 And the host of the Ludwig Bad； as he appeared himself to marshal this chieftain to their saloon； bowed his body low with every step。
〃Room there； room there； for the mighty Baron von Stalkenberg。〃
The mighty baron had come to invite them to a feast at his castle； where no feast had ever been made so grand before as this would be； and Otto had /carte blanche/ to engage other distinguished sojourners at Stalkenberg； English； French； and natives； who had been civil to him。 Mrs。 Crosby's head was turned。
And now； I ask you； knowing as you do our national notions； was it not enough to turn it？ You will not； then； be surprised to hear that when； some days subsequent to the feast； the Count Otto von Stalkenberg laid his proposals at Helena's feet； they were not rejected。
Helena Crosby rushed into her governess's room。
〃Madam！ Madam！ Only think。 I am going to be married！〃
Madam lifted her pale； sad facea very sad and pale face was hers。
〃Indeed！〃 she gently uttered。
〃And my studies are to be over from to…day； Mamma says so。〃
〃You are over young to marry； Helena。〃
〃Now don't you bring up that； madam。 It is just what papa is harping upon；〃 returned Miss Helena。
〃It is to Count Otto？〃 And it may be remarked that the governess's English was perfect； although the young lady addressed her as 〃Madam。〃
〃Count Otto； of course。 As if I would marry anybody else！〃
Look at the governess； reader； and see whether you know her。 You will say 〃No。〃 But you do； for it is Lady Isabel Vane。 But how strangely she is altered！ Yes； the railway accident did that for her； and what the accident left undone； grief and remorse accomplished。 She limps as she walks； and slightly stoops； taken from her former height。 A scar extends from her chin above her mouth； completely changing the character of the lower part of her face； some of her teeth are missing； so that she speaks with a lisp； and the sober bands of her gray hairit is nearly silverare confined under a large and close cap。 She herself tries to make the change greater； so that all chance of being recognized may be at an end； and for that reason she wears disfiguring spectacles； and a broad band of gray velvet； coming down low upon her forehead。 Her dress； too； is equally disfiguring。 Never is she seen in one that fits her person； but in those frightful 〃loose jackets；〃 which must surely have been invented by somebody envious of a pretty shape。 As to her bonnet； it would put to shame those masquerade things tilted on to the back of the head； for it actually shaded her face； and she was never seen out without a thick veil。 She was pretty easy upon the score of being recognized now； for Mrs。 Ducie and her daughters had been sojourning at Stalkenberg； and they did not know her in the least。 Who could know her？ What resemblance was there between that gray； broken…down woman； with her disfiguring marks； and the once loved Lady Isabel； with her bright color； her beauty； her dark flowing curls； and her agile figure？ Mr。 Carlyle himself could not have told her。 But she was good…looking still； in spite of it all； gentle and interesting； and people wondered to see that gray hair in one yet young。
She had been with the Crosbys going on for two years。 After her recovery from the railway accident； she removed to a quiet town in the vicinity； they were living there； and she became daily governess to Helena。 The Crosbys were given to understand that she was English； but the widow of a Frenchmanshe was obliged to offer some plausible account。 There were no references； but she so won upon their esteem as the daily governess； that they soon took her into the house。 Had Lady Isabel surmised that they would be travelling to so conspicuous a spot as an English…frequented German watering…place； she might have hesitated to accept the engagement。 However； it had been of service to her； the meeting with Mrs。 Ducie proving that she was altered beyond chance of recognition。 She could go anywhere now。
But now； about her state of