ause of tearing you from
your bride--"

"Then Toni would have to accept it as an intervention of Providence,"
answered Willibald, upon whom the mention of his betrothed seemed to
make no impression. "One can but lose his life once, and there is no use
looking on the worst side, either. Where shall I take you, Fraeulein? To
Park street? I think I heard you lived on that street."

She shook her head violently.

"No, no; I cannot walk, I shall call a carriage; there are some over
there. I had meant to go to Professor Marani, to practice a new part,
but I cannot sing now."

Willibald turned his steps in the direction where the carriages were
standing, and they went on in silence until they came near them.
Marietta stopped then, and turning to her escort, said anxiously:

"Herr von Eschenhagen, must it be? Can nothing be done?"

"Well, hardly. I knocked the count down, and called him a low scoundrel,
and most fellows would regard that as sufficient grounds for a duel.
But, don't you worry about it. The whole affair will be over to-morrow
or next day, with only a couple of scratches to tell the tale, in all
probability."

"And I shall have to wait two or three days in anxiety and uncertainty.
Cannot you send me some news?"

Will looked down into the dark, tearful eyes, and a light came in his
own such as had gleamed from them on the first day he saw the little
"singing bird."

"When all is happily over, I'll come myself and bring you the news if I
may?"

"Certainly, certainly. But if it should end unfortunately, if you should
fall?"

"Then hold me in kinder remembrance than you have done hitherto," said
Willibald, earnestly and cordially. "You took me for a coward. O, don't
say a word, you were right; I have felt it bitterly enough, but I was
accustomed always to obey my mother, who I knew loved me devotedly. But
now you see that I know also how a man should behave when he sees a
defenseless girl insulted, and I will avenge that insult--if need be
with my blood."

Without waiting for an answer, he hailed a driver, assisted Marietta
into the carriage, and repeated to the man the street and number which
she gave him. She placed her little hand in his for a moment, and gave
him a long look, then, as the carriage rolled away, she threw herself
back on the cushions with a loud sob. Will looked after the carriage as
long as it was in sight, then he threw his shoulders back and said, with
a sort of fierce pleasure: