n an undertone, "that uncle Balder is no longer here to see it."

Edwin shook his head. "I fear the point in question does not concern
such important matters," said he, "or I should probably be admitted
into the secret. To be sure, it might be possible; for who can
thoroughly understand a woman! For instance, would you believe that
this affectionate daughter, who when she left the hut on the lagune
shed bitter tears because her father would be there alone, can't yet
make up her mind to visit him, simply because he did the wisest thing
he could, under the circumstances, and married his old friend, Frau
Valentin?"

"So that's true!" exclaimed Marquard. "Adeline thought she had read it
in the newspaper, but afterwards we could not find the sheet to make
sure of the names, and of course they didn't send cards to us. Well, I
believe they'll live as happily as two doves, content with their God,
and good works will now flourish in partnership. But what does our Leah
see to condemn in such a match, which was certainly made in heaven and
which moreover is such a sensible arrangement; for where could the
lonely old man find a better refuge, now that a huge tenement house has
been built on the site of his Venetian palace, than under the
protecting wings of his excellent old sweetheart?"

"That's just it," replied Edwin, "that touched a spot in his daughter's
heart and she will hear no reasoning upon it. If the point in question
had simply concerned a new mode of life, in which other considerations
than her father's comfort had turned the scale, no one would have been
more glad, than my good wife. But papa zaunkoenig informed her of his
decision in a letter which was certainly strange enough. The parts were
exactly exchanged; the father addressed the daughter in the tone a good
son or younger brother would use in informing a highly respected mother
or sister of a marriage of which she would probably disapprove, but
which, as an accomplished fact, must be accepted with the best
grace possible. He knew his child; he knew that she watched with a
deep-rooted jealousy, to see that her dead mother's image was not
supplanted. Her passionate love would not have rebelled against what is
termed a sensible marriage with anyone except his old love; but
throughout the letter, it was perfectly evident that a late blossom of
their youthful love had unfolded, a joyous midsummer warmth had
awakened in these two by no means aged souls, and that bo