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freemen； and that their free constitution should be sacred for all
time to come！〃
He bent down； kissed the moss…grown stones； and encircled them
tenderly with his arms as though they were an altar before which he
was uttering devout vows and prayers。 The Tyrolese； who had
gradually reached the summit； had silently knelt down behind Andreas
Hofer； and were praying like him。
One sentiment animated them all and illuminated their faces with the
radiant lustre of joy： the Tyrol was delivered from the foreign
yoke； and they； the sons of the country； had alone liberated their
beloved fatherland。
〃Now； men of the Tyrol；〃 shouted Hormayr； 〃listen to the message
which the Archduke John sends to you。〃
And amid the solemn silence of the Tyrolese； and the peals of the
Meran churchbells penetrating up to them； Hormayr read to them a
document drawn up by the Archduke John； by virtue of which he
resumed possession of the Tyrol in the name of the emperor； declared
it to be incorporated with the imperial states； and solemnly vowed
that； as a reward of its loyalty； it should remain united with
Austria for all future time。 At the same time； the ancient
constitution and the former privileges were restored to the
Tyrolese； and Baron von Hormayr was appointed governor of the Tyrol。
CHAPTER XX。
ELIZA WALLNER'S RETURN。
All Windisch…Matrey was again in joyful commotion to…day； for a
twofold festival was to be celebrated： the return of the men of
Windisch…Matrey； who had so bravely fought for the country and so
aided in delivering it； and then； as had been resolved previous to
their departure； Eliza Wallner's wedding was to come off to…day。
She had redeemed her pledge； she had proved that she was a true and
brave daughter of the Tyrol； and Anthony Wallner； her father； was no
longer angry with her； he wished to reward her for her courage and
intrepidity； and make her happy。 Therefore； he had sent a messenger
secretly and without her knowledge to Windisch…Matrey； and had
ordered his wife to decorate the house festively； and request the
curate to repair to the church and perform the marriage rites。 The
returning Tyrolese were to march to the church； and； after thanking
God for the deliverance of the Tyrol； the curate was to marry Eliza
Wallner and her lover in presence of the whole congregation。
Since early dawn； therefore； all the married women and girls of
Windisch…Matrey； dressed in their handsome holiday attire； had been
in the street； and had decorated the route which the returning men
were to take； and adorned the church with wreaths and garlands of
flowers。
Wallner's wife alone had remained at home； for she had to attend to
the preparations for the wedding…banquet； with which she and her
servant…girls had been occupied during the whole of the previous
day。 There were a great many things to be done yet； the table had to
be set in the large bar…room for the wedding…guests； the roasts had
to be looked after in the kitchen； and the whole house had to be
decorated； and festoons of flowers to be suspended round its
entrance。
〃Schroepfel might render me good service now；〃 said Wallner's wife；
eagerly。 〃I have so many things to attend to； and he does not move
his hands； but sits like a log at the door of dear Ulrich von
Hohenberg； and cares for nothing else。 Oh； Schroepfel； Schroepfel；
come here！ I want to see you！〃
At the staircase leading down into the hall appeared the sunburnt；
furrowed face of old Schroepfel。
〃If you want to see me； you must come up here；〃 he shouted。 〃I have
been told to stand guard here； and I will not desert my post； even
for the sake of Mrs。 Wallner； until I am relieved。〃
〃He is a queer fellow；〃 said Mrs。 Wallner； laughing； 〃but I must do
what he says。〃
She hastened up…stairs。 At the door of the room where the prisoner
was confined stood the servant； pressing his face to the brown
panels of the door。
〃Now； Schroepfel；〃 asked Mrs。 Wallner； laughing； 〃can you see
through the boards？ For you put your eyes to the door as though it
were a window。〃
〃It is a window；〃 said Schroepfel； in a low voice； limping up a few
steps to his mistress。 〃I have bored four small holes in the door；
and through them I am able to see the whole room and all that the
prisoner is doing。 Look； Mrs。 Wallner！ the hole below there is my
window when he is in bed and asleep； I can see his face through it。
The hole a little above it enables me to watch him while he is
seated at the table； and writing or reading； and through the hole up
here I can see his face when he is pacing the room。〃
〃You are a strange fellow；〃 said Mrs。 Wallner； shaking her head。
〃You watch the poor sick prisoner as though he were an eagle； always
ready to fly from the nest。〃
〃He is about what you say；〃 said Schroepfel； thoughtfully。 〃He is no
longer sick； and his wings have grown a great deal during the week
since he was here； I believe he would like to fly from here。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said Mrs。 Wallner； with a shrug。 〃He loves my Lizzie； and
I do not believe that he who loves that girl will wish to fly away
before she flies with him。〃
〃I do not know about that； I have my own notions about it；〃 said
Schroepfel。 〃He is a Bavarian for all that； and the Bavarians are
all faithless and dishonest。 I swore to watch him and not lose sight
of him； and I must keep my oath； hence； I shall not leave the door
until I am relieved。〃
〃Then you will not come down…stairs and help me fix the wreaths and
garlands； set the table； and clean the knives？〃
〃No； dear Mrs。 Wallner； I am not allowed to do so； much as I would
like to assist you。 A sentinel must never leave his post； or he will
be called a deserter； and Mr。 Wallner always told me that that was a
great disgrace for an honest fellow。 Now； as I am an honest fellow；
and； owing to my lame leg； cannot serve the country in any other way
than watching this prisoner； I shall stay here as a sentinel and
take good care not to desert。〃
〃Well； do so； then；〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Wallner； half angrily； half
laughingly。 〃But you may go in to the gentleman and tell him to be
of good cheer； for Eliza will come back to…day； and the wedding will
take place immediately after her return； when he will be free。 Tell
him to prepare for the ceremony； for； when the bells commence
ringing the returning defenders of the country will have reached the
village； and we are to go with him to the church； where the curate
will await us。〃
〃Of course； I shall tell him all this；〃 growled Schroepfel； and Mrs。
Wallner hastened down…stairs again。
〃Yes； I shall tell him；〃 murmured Schroepfel to himself； 〃but I
wonder if it will gladden his heart？ During the first few days； when
he had the wound…fever； he talked strange things in his delirium；
and derided and scorned our beautiful Lizzie； who； he said； was bent
upon becoming an aristocratic lady。 Since he is well again； he
abuses her no longer； but he looks very sombre； and during the whole
week he has not once inquired after his betrothed。 God blast the
accursed Boafok if he should love the girl no longer； and if he did
not honestly intend to make her his wife！ I will go in to him and
see