was to be christened Sibylla, after the count's mother. As the health of
the child was excellent, the ceremony was postponed till the recovery of
the mother from her confinement; many were invited to be present on the
occasion, and the castle was thronged with company. It happened that
amongst the guests was an old lady, notorious for playing in private
society the part of a malicious fairy in a minstrel's tale. This was the
Baroness of Steinfeldt, famous in the neighbourhood for her insatiable
curiosity and overweening pride. She had not been many days in the castle,
ere, by the aid of a female attendant, who acted as an intelligencer,
she had made herself mistress of all that was heard, said, or suspected,
concerning the peculiarities of the Baroness Hermione. It was on the
morning of the day appointed for the christening, while the whole company
were assembled in the hall, and waiting till the baroness should appear,
to pass with them to the chapel, that there arose between the censorious
and haughty dame whom we have just mentioned, and the Countess
Waldstettin, a violent discussion concerning some point of disputed
precedence. It was referred to the Baron von Arnheim, who decided in
favour of the countess. Madame de Steinfeldt instantly ordered her palfrey
to be prepared, and her attendants to mount. 'I leave this place,' said
she, 'which a good Christian ought never to have entered; I leave a house
of which the master is a sorcerer, the mistress a demon who dares not
cross her brow with holy water, and their trencher companion one who for
a wretched pittance is willing to act as match-maker between a wizard and
an incarnate fiend!' She then departed, with rage in her countenance,
and spite in her heart. The Baron of Arnheim then stepped forward, and
demanded of the knights and gentlemen around, if there were any among them
who would dare to make good with his sword the infamous falsehoods thrown
upon himself, his spouse, and his kinswoman. There was a general answer,
utterly refusing to defend the Baroness of Steinfeldt's words in so bad a
cause, and universally testifying the belief of the company that she spoke