Molk
when she was first left to herself, the words of the burgomaster had
their effect. Her enemies were becoming too strong for her. Her heart
was weak within her. She had eaten little or nothing for the last few
days, and the blood was running thinly through her veins. It was more
difficult to reply to tenderness from her aunt than to harshness. And
there came upon her a feeling that after all it signified but little.
There was but a choice between one misery and another. The only
really good thing would be to die and to have done with it all,--to
die before she had utterly thrown away all hope, all chance of
happiness in that future world in which she thoroughly believed. She
was ill now, and if it might be that her illness would bring her to
death;--but would bring her slowly, so that she might yet repent, and
all would be right.

Madame Staubach said nothing more to her about Peter till the morning
of that day on which Peter was to come for his answer. A little
before noon Madame Staubach brought to her niece some weak broth, as
she had done once before, on that morning. But Linda, who was sick
and faint at heart, would not take it.

"Try, my dear," said Madame Staubach.

"I cannot try," said Linda.

"I wish particularly to speak to you,--now,--at once; and this will
give you strength to listen to me." But Linda declined to be made
strong for such a purpose, and declared that she could listen very
well as she was. Then Madame Staubach began her great argument. Linda
had heard what the burgomaster had said. Linda knew well what she,
her aunt and guardian, thought about it. Linda could not but know
that visits from a young man at her chamber door, such as that to
which she herself had confessed, were things so horrible that they
hardly admitted of being spoken of even between an aunt and her
niece; and Madame Staubach's cheeks were hot and red as she spoke of
this.

"If he had come to your door, aunt Charlotte, you could not have
helped it."

"But he embraced you?"

"Yes, he did."

"Oh, my child, will you not let me save you from the evil days?
Linda, you are all in all to me;--the only one that I love. Linda,
Linda, your soul is precious to me, almost as my own. Oh, Linda,
shall I pray for you in vain?" She sank upon her knees as she spoke,
and prayed with all her might that God would turn the heart of this
child, so that even yet she might be rescued from the burning. With
arms extended, and loud voic