Page:Court and Lady's Magazine (vol 3, 1839).djvu/136

 corpse, the sight of which deprived her of sensation.”sensation. [sic]

“I am happy,” said the host, “that it is in my power to relieve you from all apprehension as regards the phantom. My Madonna is hung in a most advantageous morning light, but in the evening the rays of the lamp produce quite a contrary effect, and give the picture so death-like an aspect, that I am sometimes inclined to hang a curtain before it. Only look now and convince yourself.”

He then led the still exhausted girl back to her seat, from whence the picture had a most singular effect; the face of the mother appearing almost colourless, presented a shadowy, unearthly contrast to the healthful rounded form of the infant. Elisa immediately recognized the phantom created by her over-excited imagination.

The scream remains to be inquired into said the hostess, ringing for the domestics. The nursery maid was called. “It was nothing of any consequence, gnädige frau, only the night lamp went out, and the little Emelius waking, shrieked to find himself in the dark.”

“Heaven be praised!” observed Falk, sotto voce to Anselm; “I was absolutely frightened, for just as I began to read, the singular connexion between my poem and the previous conversation fell like a weight upon my heart. However, she does not appear to have noticed it.”

The little New-Year’s gifts with which the host presented each of his friends, now completely restored the cheerfulness of the party. Each received some bagatelle in complimentary or playful allusion to his or her tastes or feelings. The baron’s portion was an ancient castle, which changed itself into a temple of Hymen; Anselm’s, a wine glass that became a smiling Hebe; Falk’s, a dance of Bacchanals round a wine barrel, which, seen by candle-light, presented the Muses at the fountain of Helicon; and Elisa received a rosebud, changing to a Cupid, surrounded by children’s playthings. The song and the jest went merrily round; Falk was at last enabled to read his ode to the New Year without interruption, and as the party were about to separate, the baron invited them all to re-assemble at his castle at the same period in the ensuing year. The proposition was gladly acceded to, and the friends drank to their next happy meeting, in a bumper of the oldest and best that their host’s liberal cellar afforded.

“Keep your word,” said Elisa, as she took leave. “Not one of us must be absent on the next New Year’s Night; remember, the first promise made in the year is irrevocable, and must be conscientiously adhered to.”

Christmas passed off with the greatest possible hilarity; the customary étrennes of the season were interchanged, not forgetting the absent baron, for whom a store of badinage was in preparation with which to surprize him at the approaching reunion of the little coterie at the castle, where he and his young wife passed their time in a state of uninterrupted happiness. During the year repeated invitations had been sent and accepted; and the friends already enjoyed by anticipation the pleasures of that social intercourse which a few days spent together in the country would afford them. Hard frost and a brilliant sky enlivened the last days of December, as well as the prospects of the party. It was arranged they should all meet at the baron’s on the 31st, and while celebrating the vanishing moments of the year, herald in the merry hours they hoped to enjoy at the hospitable mansion.

Schloss Hartenstein is situated on a prominent rock, surrounded by beautiful and romantic scenery. The style of architecture suffices to show (even were old chronicles wanting to testify it) that the castle took its origin in the earliest feudal ages. Owing to repeated hostile attacks the building (excepting the many dungeons and passages excavated to the very depth of the rock) had at various periods been partially destroyed; so that the eye of the most casual observer discerns the tastes and requisites of many a century, both as regards the form and distribution of the different parts appropriated to internal convenience. In later times the more recent possessors have endeavoured to