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Hartmut was startled, when, upon reaching the top step, he recognized Frau von Eschenhagen. The lattice-work had prevented his recognizing her, and for her presence he was not prepared. But at the very moment when he realized who it was, the ambassador's words sounded in his ears. He understood only too well what the tone and words implied and the blood rushed to his temples. "Hartmut!"
They had, as usual, soon drifted away from pleasant topics and their contention was growing fiercer each moment. "I really don't know what to think of you, Moritz," said Frau von Eschenhagen, very red in the face. "You don't seem to comprehend the impropriety of permitting such an intimacy.
And she playing the virtuous, deeply injured part before me, that creature " "Mother, be silent! I will not allow that," interrupted Willibald, angry too, now. "You will not allow it what does that mean?" Frau von Eschenhagen stopped suddenly and listened. "There comes Toni, your betrothed bride, to whom you have pledged your word, who wears your ring. How do you purpose treating her?"
"Above all things I consider marriages made late in life by far the happiest; one is not influenced then by passion, as Falkenried was, to his lasting wretchedness, but gives to reason the decisive word." "The saints protect us! What if Willibald should wait to marry until he is fifty years old and gray-headed?" cried Frau von Eschenhagen, greatly vexed.
They could plead more powerfully than the lips, and Frau von Eschenhagen, who yielded to no one, from her only son to the lowest tenant on the estate, permitted herself to be persuaded by them now. "You are incorrigible, you merry-andrew" she said, brushing the curls from his forehead.
Frau von Eschenhagen and her son were to remain also, to have an opportunity of "viewing these Court people close at hand." The head forester, in view of the prospective hunting which was his especial care, had daily interviews with the under foresters and their subordinates, and kept them all pretty well on their legs, that nothing might be neglected.
"No, his highness is in the city, but Herr Rojanow is here and sent me. He begs that you and Herr von Eschenhagen come down at once to Rodeck, and," he glanced at Frau von Eschenhagen, of whose arrival he had not heard, "and my lady should come, too." "But what is it, what has happened?" cried the forester, seriously alarmed now.
Would it not be better oh, I've said it all to you before perhaps you won't, perhaps you have a better offer in view, but wouldn't it be better to have a triple instead of a double marriage?" Frau von Eschenhagen looked darkly on the ground and shook her head. "No, Moritz, I never was less in the humor for marrying than now." "Another refusal !" cried the head forester impatiently.
Doubtless he wants some more roses," Frau von Eschenhagen broke out afresh, while the father held out both his arms to Toni and said, in a trembling voice: "My child, my poor, deceived child, come to me. Come to your father's arms."
Frau von Eschenhagen arose at once to fulfil his wish, but as she left the room she murmured half aloud: "If it be not already too late. She blinded the father and made him almost insane once; she has surely done as much for the son by this time." In about ten minutes Hartmut entered; he closed the door behind him, but remained standing near it. Falkenried turned to him.
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