onversation with her, nor
did Madame Staubach again endeavour to create any intercourse between
them. It must come after marriage. It was clearly to her God's will
that these two people should be married, and she could not but be
right to leave the result to His wisdom. A day was named. With a
simple nod of her head Linda agreed that she would become Peter's
wife on the fifteenth of March; and she received visits from Herr
Molk and from Jacob Heisse to congratulate her on her coming
happiness.

CHAPTER XVI

Throughout February Linda never flinched. She hardly spoke at
all except on matters of household business, but to them she was
sedulously attentive. She herself insisted on understanding what
legal arrangement was made about the house, and would not consent
to sign the necessary document preparatory to her marriage till
there was inserted in it a clause giving to her aunt a certain
life-interest in the property in the event either of her marriage or
of her death. Peter did his best to oppose this, as did also Madame
Staubach herself; but Linda prevailed, and the clause was there. "She
would have to live with you whether or no," said Herr Molk to the
town-clerk. "You couldn't turn the woman out into the street." But
Peter had wished to be master of his own house, and would not give
up the point till much eloquence and authority had been used. He had
come to wish with all his heart that he had never seen Linda Tressel
or the red house; but he had gone so far that he could not retract.
Linda never flinched, never uttered a word of complaint; sat silent
while Peter was smoking, and awaited her doom. Once her aunt spoke
to her about her feelings as a bride. "You do love him, do you not,
Linda?" said Madame Staubach. "I do not love him," Linda had replied.
Then Madame Staubach dared to ask no further question, but prayed
that the necessary affection might be given.

There were various things to be bought, and money for the purpose was
in a moderate degree forthcoming. Madame Staubach possessed a small
hoard, which was now to be spent, and something she raised on her own
little property. A portion of this was intrusted wholly to Linda, and
she exercised care and discretion in its disposition. Linen for the
house she purchased, and things needed for the rooms and the kitchen.
But she would expend nothing in clothes for herself. When pressed on
the subject by her aunt, she declared that her marriage would be one