and suspense over her grandfather's bed. Willibald found it
necessary to go with his cousin and do what he could. All this seemed
natural enough to the head forester, who was sincerely attached to the
Volkmars, and felt a great desire to show more than an ordinary amount
of attention to "the poor little thing" who had been so cruelly insulted
in his house. He had it in for his sister-in-law when he should see her
again.

At the end of three dreadful days the doctor's strong constitution
asserted itself, and hopes of his recovery were entertained. Herr von
Schoenau was as rejoiced as any of the family, and rubbed his hands with
a satisfied air when Toni, on the fourth day, reported a marked
amendment in the doctor's condition.

But a thunder-storm from the north was descending upon them all.
Suddenly, without any announcement, Frau von Eschenhagen appeared in
their midst. She had wasted no time in the city with her brother, but
came on directly from Burgsdorf, and descended like a veritable
thunder-storm upon her brother-in-law, who was in his own room reading
the papers.

"Bless us--is it you, Regine?" he cried, really alarmed. "This is a
surprise. Why didn't you send word you were coming?"

"Where is Willibald?" was her only response in an incensed tone. "Is he
at Fuerstenstein?"

"Of course, where else would he be? He wrote you of his arrival, that
much I know."

"Let him be called--now, this minute."

"What's the matter with you, Regine?" asked the head forester, noticing
for the first time her intense excitement. "Is Burgsdorf burned to the
ground? I can't bring your Will to you now, this minute, for he's not
here just now, he's over at Waldhofen--"

"Probably, at Dr. Volkmar's. In that case she's there too."

"What 'she?' Toni has gone over as usual to be with Marietta; that poor
little girl has been in despair for the past few days. And I want to
have a word with you, Frau sister-in-law, while we are on this subject.
How could you have spoken so cruelly to Marietta, in my house, too. I
didn't hear of it for some time after, but I can tell you I--"

A loud, angry laugh interrupted him.

Frau von Eschenhagen had thrown aside her bonnet and cloak, and she now
strode angrily to her brother-in-law's chair.

"Do you still reprove me because I did my best to put an unclean thing
out of your house? You have always been blind. You would not listen to
me--and now it is too late."

"I believe you're gone cl