“That is easily answered. More than eight years ago—I was then a girl of fourteen—my sister and I were staying at the Castle of Silverstein in Saxony. One evening, among other diversions, there happened to be a series of tableaux vivants, in one of which my sister and I took part, each clad in the garb of a forester; and,” added the Duchess, with a touch of vanity, “if all that was said of us be true, we made a pair of handsome lads.—The next morning, before breakfast, my sister, always full of mischief, proposed an especial piece of daring. ‘Let us put on the dress we wore in the tableau vivant, and take a walk outside the castle grounds.’ I laughingly consented; and, escaping the eyes of our elders, we two girls sallied forth in male garb. The keeper of the lodge, past whom we boldly marched, failed to penetrate our disguise, and doubtless wondered why we laughed so, when at a safe distance from the gate. It was a sunny morning, and we turned our steps to the forest that lay eastward of the castle. Forgetful of time, we wandered onward till at last it began to dawn upon us that we were a long way from home, and were, perhaps, doing a foolish thing, for we now suddenly remembered that a bear had recently been seen in this wood.
“Scarcely had the thought seized us when we actually came upon two little black cubs rolling over each other at the foot of a hollow tree. The sight turned our blood cold, for one glance showed that this hollow trunk was a bear’s den, and we did not doubt that its savage tenant was not far off. Then came a heavy pattering upon the fallen leaves, and a moment afterwards the mother bear appeared, growling and making directly for us. Too terrified to move, my sister and I clung to each other, uttering wild screams.”
Wilfrid himself could now have related the sequel, but preferred to hear it from her lips. It was a pleasure to listen to her voice. The Duchess saw his smile, and smiled in turn.
“Need I tell you what happened? The report of a musket rang out, and the bear rolled over dead. The shot had been fired by a young man who came forward with a smile in which I fancied there lurked a trace of contempt. Of course, Lord Courtenay, you took us for what we seemed to be, namely, two youths, and as such, we doubtless looked very silly, screaming and making no attempt to save ourselves; and yet, perhaps, if you had been without a musket, you might not have looked so brave as you did just then.”
“Quite true, your Highness.”
“Naturally, we did not like to say that we were girls, and so, after thanking you, we hastened off and reached Silverstein without our escapade having become known.
“Now, in our confusion we had forgotten to ask the name of our deliverer.
“‘We must try to find out who he is,’ said my sister, ‘and show our gratitude by something more than words.’
“So, later in the day, and this time dressed in a manner suitable to good girls, we drove forth in our carriage accompanied by our duenna.
“Fortune favoured us, for as we were proceeding along the high road that skirts one side of the forest, my sister pressed my arm with the words, ‘There he is.’