you
wandering astray? How can I be happy when you tell me that you love
the man in Nuremberg whom I believe of all to be most wicked and
ungodly? How can I be happy when you threaten to expel from the
house, because it is your own, the only man whom I love, honour, and
respect?"

"I never said so, aunt Charlotte;--I never thought of saying such a
thing."

"And what will you ask of this stranger should you find yourself in
his presence?"

"I will tell him everything, and ask him what I should do."

"And will you tell him truly?"

"Certainly, aunt Charlotte; I will tell him the truth in everything."

"And if he bids you marry the man whom I have chosen as your
husband?" Linda, when this suggestion was made to her, became silent.
Truly it was impossible that any wise man in Nuremberg could tell her
that such a sacrifice as that was necessary! Then Madame Staubach
repeated the question. "If he bids you marry Peter Steinmarc, will
you do as he bids you?"

Surely she would not be so bidden by her father's friend! "I will
endeavour to do as he bids me," said Linda.

"Then go to him, my child, and may God so give him grace that he may
soften the hardness of your heart, and prevail with you to put down
beneath your feet the temptations of Satan; and that he may quell the
spirit of evil within you. God forbid that I should think that there
is no wisdom in Nuremberg fitter than mine to guide you. If the man
be a man of God, he will give you good counsel."

Then Linda, wondering much at her aunt's ready acquiescence, went
forth, and walked straightway to the house of Herr Molk in the
Egidien Platz.

CHAPTER VIII

A walk of ten minutes took Linda from the Schuett island to the
Egidien Platz, and placed her before the door of Herr Molk's house.
The Egidien Platz is, perhaps, the most fashionable quarter of
Nuremberg, if Nuremberg may be said to have a fashion in such
matters. It is near to the Rathhaus, and to St. Sebald's Church, and
is not far distant from the old Burg or Castle in which the Emperors
used to dwell when they visited the imperial city of Nuremberg.
This large open Place has a church in its centre, and around it are
houses almost all large, built with gables turned towards the street,
quaint, picturesque, and eloquent of much burghers' wealth. There
could be no such square in a city which was not or had not been very
rich. And among all the houses in the Egidien Platz, there was no
house to ex