e simple preparations were to be made with all speed, and the marriage
to take place as soon as possible. Willibald, to whom the head forester
had already confided his daughter's engagement, felt that there was no
need of delay now, out of respect to his cousin Toni.

Toward evening Dr. Volkmar went to visit some patients, and the
betrothed pair, who had had but little opportunity to see one another,
settled themselves for a long, quiet talk. The future was dim and
fraught with fear and dread, but the present belonged to them, and in
that thought there was happiness despite everything.

They whispered together in the shaded room, talking the old sweet
lovers' talk, and so thoroughly absorbed in one another that they failed
to hear some one cross the hall with slow, hesitating steps. Then the
rustle of a woman's gown attracted their attention, and they looked up
and sprang to their feet as they looked.

"My mother!" cried Will in an alarmed but joyous tone, putting his arm
around Marietta as he spoke, as though to protect her, for his mother's
face wore its hardest, most forbidding look. Without appearing to notice
the young girl she turned her face to her son.

"I heard from Adelheid that you were here," said she in a hard, dry
tone, "and I thought I would come and ask you how things were going on
at Burgsdorf. Who have you left in your place during your absence? No
one can tell how long the campaign will last."

The joyful expression on her son's face disappeared; he had hoped for
another greeting from his mother's unexpected appearance.

"I have provided for possibilities as well as I could," he answered.
"The greater part of the people will have to go, too, and the inspector
is off already; there is no question of substitutes now. So the work
will be, of necessity, limited, and old Merton can oversee it."

"Merton's an old sheep," said Regine, in her most decided tone. "If he
has the reins, things will come to a pretty pass at Burgsdorf. There's
nothing else for it, but for me to go and see to it."

"What! You will go?" Willibald cried, but his mother cut him off
sharply.

"Do you think I'd let everything you own go to ruin while you were in
the field? Burgsdorf will be safe in my hands, you know that. I have had
charge for many a long year, and I'll take my old place until you
return."

She still spoke in a hard, cold tone, as if she would stifle all warm
feelings, but now Will took his sweetheart in his