ibald, defending himself. "I
never wrote but one poem, and that was on the night when I saw Marietta
play. I gave it to Hartmut and asked him to change it a little and make
it read more like his. I'll tell you what he said in answer. 'Dear Will,
your poem is very beautiful and full of feeling; but you'd better let
it remain as it is. The public would in all probability not appreciate
the lines as they deserve, and your wife will value your work better
without any rearrangement by me.' That was my bosom friend's judgment."

"It served you right; what had you, a landlord, to do with verses?"
cried Regine sharply. Just then the door from the dining-room opened,
and a dark curly head peeped out, while a fresh voice said playfully:

"May a poor subject have a moment's speech with her most gracious
majesty?"

"Come here with you," said Frau von Eschenhagen, but the invitation was
unnecessary, for the young wife was already in her husband's arms, while
he, drawing her to him, whispered something in her ear.

"There you begin again," said his mother. "Some people never grow tired
of folly."

The young wife turned toward her mother-in-law and said:

"You mustn't forget that we had no honeymoon when we were married, and
so we are taking it now. You know from experience that one is permitted
an extra share of happiness during that time."

Frau Regine shrugged her shoulders. Her honeymoon with Herr von
Eschenhagen of blessed memory had been of another kind.

"You received a letter from your grandfather, did you not, Marietta?"
she said, changing the subject. "Good news?"

"The very best. Grandpapa is quite well, and is delighted at the thought
that he'll be here with me in another month. He writes that it's the
quietest summer he has known for a long time around Waldhofen. Rodeck
has been desolate and deserted since the prince's death. Ostwalden is
closed and Fuerstenstein will be empty soon, too. Toni is to be married
in two weeks, and then uncle Schoenau will be all alone."

The last words were spoken in a peculiar tone, and Marietta gave her
mother-in-law an odd glance, which the latter did not notice; she only
said:

"It does seem singular for Hartmut and Ada to spend the first weeks of
their marriage here in that little villa when they could go to the great
castle at Ostwalden or one of the Stahlberg palaces."

"They wanted to be as near the general as possible," said Willibald.

"Well, in this case, Falkenried