Her mind was too intently occupied for the usual observation of the senses.  The whole of that grand and lovely landscape was spread before her without conveying impressions, as we gaze into the void of the firmament with our looks on vacuum.  Sigismund had disappeared among the walls of the vineyards, when she arose, and drew such a sigh as is apt to escape us after long and painful meditation.  But the eyes of the high-minded girl were bright and her cheek flushed, while the whole of her features wore an expression of loftier beauty than ordinarily distinguished even her loveliness.  Her own resolution was formed.  She had decided with the rare and generous self-devotion of a female heart that loves, and which can love in its freshness and purity but once.  At that instant footsteps were heard in the corridor, and the three old nobles whom we so lately left on the castle-terrace, appeared together in the knights’ hall.

Melchior de Willading approached his daughter with a joyous face, for he too had lately gained what he conceived to be a glorious conquest over his prejudices, and the victory put him in excellent humor with himself.

“The question is for ever decided,” he said, kissing the burning forehead of Adelheid with affection, and rubbing his hands, in the manner of one who was glad to be free from a perplexing doubt “These good friends agree with me, that, in a case like this, it becomes even our birth to forget the origin of the youth.  He who has saved the lives of the two last of the Willadings at least deserves to have some share in what is left of them.  Here is my good Grimaldi, too, ready to beard me if I will not consent to let him enrich the brave fellow—­as if we were beggars, and had not the means of supporting our kinsman in credit at borne.  But we will not be indebted even to so tried a friend for a tittle of our happiness.  The work shall be all our own, even to the letters of nobility, which I shall command at an early day from Vienna; for it would be cruel to let the noble fellow want so simple an advantage, which will at once raise him to our own level, and make him as good—­ay, by the beard of Luther! better than the best man in Berne.”

“I have never known thee niggardly before, though I have known thee often well intrenched behind Swiss frugality;” said the Signor Grimaldi, laughing.  “Thy life, my dear Melchior, may have excellent value in thine own eyes, but I am little disposed to set so mean a price on my own, as thou appearest to think it should command.  Thou hast decided well, I will say nobly, in the best meaning of the word, in consenting to receive this brave Sigismund as a son; but thou art not to think, young lady, because this body of mine is getting the worse for use, that I hold it altogether worthless, and that it is to be dragged from yonder lake like so much foul linen, and no questions are to be asked touching the manner in which the service has been done.  I claim to portion thy husband, that he may at least make an appearance that becomes the son-in-law of Melchior de Willading.  Am I of no value, that ye treat me so unceremoniously as to say I shall not pay for my own preservation?