since I lost my wife; should I be taken suddenly too, what must become of my poor child?"
"Whenever that day arrives, father, which I hope is yet far off, I will sell my sheep, and go to service; all my fear is, lest I should be sick, and not able to help you; but then I hope good Mr. Ernest, our Lord's steward, will consider you."
"What! (cried Ferdinand) do you know Ernest? Are you tenants to Count Rhodophil?"
"To be sure, Sir (answered the girl;) we know Mr. Ernest, for he buys our sheep.—As to tenants, Sir, we pay no rent, because the mountain is free to live in; but we are vassals to the Count, his estate lies round the forest."
"Do you ever go to the Castle?" asked he again.
"I never did but once (replied the shepherdess) and the walk is too long for my father; but Mr. Ernest sends to us sometimes, and we meet him in the valley, and
