216 The Countess Itha

marriage and the leave-taking. With tears
in her eyes Itha rode away with her lord,
looking back often to the old castle and
gazing farewell on the pleasant land and the
fields and villages she should not see again
for, it might be, many long years. But by
her side rode the Count, ever gay and
tender, and he comforted her in her sad-
ness, and lightened the way with loving
converse, till she put from her all her regret
and longing, and made herself happy in
their love.

So they journeyed through the rocks and
wildwood of the Schwartzwald, and came in
view of the blue waters of the lake of Con-
stance glittering in the sun, and saw the vast
mountain region beyond with its pine forests,
and above the forests the long blue mists on
the high pastures, and far over all, hanging
like silvery summer clouds in the blue
heavens, the shining peaks of the snowy
Alps. And here, at last, they were winding
down the fruitful valley of the Thur, and
yonder, perched on a rugged bluff, rose the
stern walls of Castle Toggenburg, with ban-
ners flying from the turrets, and the rocky
roadway strewn with flowers, and vassals and