err von Schoenau answered. "When a model son
begins to rebel, that's the end of it. It's hopeless trying to change
him, particularly when he's in love. But I am very curious to see Will
genuinely in love, and to hear what this paragon has to say for
himself."

His curiosity was to be gratified at once, for just at that moment
Willibald put in an appearance.

It could be seen at a glance that he had heard of his mother's arrival
and was prepared to face her. The young heir did not hang back
diffidently this time, as he had done when he hid the roses in his
pocket two months before. There was something in his bearing which told
he was prepared for combat.

"There is your mother, Will," began the head forester. "You must be
greatly surprised to see her."

"No, uncle, I am not," the young man answered, but he made no attempt to
approach his mother, who stood like a threatening cloud, and whose voice
was an angry growl as she asked:

"Perhaps you know, then, why I came?"

"I imagine why, mother, even though I do not know where you obtained
your information."

"The newspapers keep us advised--there, read that," and his mother
handed him the newspaper from the table. "But Toni has been here and
told us all--do you hear--all!"

She spoke the last words in a tone of annihilation, but Willibald did
not seem at all disturbed by them, and answered very quietly:

"Well, then, in that case, there's no need for my saying anything.
Otherwise I should have spoken to my uncle this afternoon."

That was too much. Now the cloud broke with thunder and lightning, and
the storm descended with such violence upon the head of the sinning son
that there seemed nothing less for him to do than to sink into the
ground as a creature too debased to live; but he did not sink; he bent
his head before the driving tempest, and when his mother stopped a
moment--she had to take breath--he looked up quietly and said:

"Mother--will you allow me to speak now?"

"Oh, you are ready to speak? That is really remarkable," Schoenau
interrupted with a sneer. He felt he had not been kindly used by his
daughter and her lover. Willibald began to speak, at first hesitatingly
and slowly, but, as he went on, his voice strengthened, and his courage
returned.

"I am very sorry to have grieved you, but I could do nothing else this
time. I was as innocent of any desire to fight a duel as was Marietta.
She was followed in the park by an impertinent fellow who