d. If you will
be good and obedient, I will forgive the great unkindness of what you
have said to me."

"I have not meant to be unkind, but I cannot have you for my husband.
How am I to love you?"

"That will come."

"It will never come."

"Was it not unkind when you said that I was three times as old as
you?"

"I did not mean to be unkind." Since the allusion which had been
made to some younger lover, from which Linda had gathered that Peter
Steinmarc must know something of Ludovic's passion for herself, she
had been in part quelled. She was not able now to stand up bravely
before her suitor, and fight him as she had done at first with all
the weapons which she had at her command. The man knew something
which it was almost ruinous to her that he should know, something by
which, if her aunt knew it, she would be quite ruined. How could it
be that Herr Steinmarc should have learned anything of Ludovic's wild
love? He had not been in the house,--he had been in the town-hall,
sitting in his big official arm-chair,--when Ludovic had stood in the
low-arched doorway and blown a kiss across the river from his hand.
And yet he did know it; and knowing it, would of course tell her
aunt! "I did not mean to be unkind," she said.

"You were very unkind."

"I beg your pardon then, Herr Steinmarc."

"Will you let me address you, then, as your lover?"

"Oh, no!"

"Because of that young man; is it?"

"Oh, no, no. I have said nothing to the young man--not a word. He is
nothing to me. It is not that."

"Linda, I see it all. I understand everything now. Unless you will
promise to give him up, and do as your aunt bids you, I must tell
your aunt everything."

"There is nothing to tell."

"Linda!"

"I have done nothing. I can't help any young man. He is only over
there because of the brewery." She had told all her secret now. "He
is nothing to me, Herr Steinmarc, and if you choose to tell aunt
Charlotte, you must. I shall tell aunt Charlotte that if she will
let me keep out of your way, I will promise to keep out of his. But
if you come, then--then--then--I don't know what I may do." After
that she escaped, and went away back into the kitchen, while Peter
Steinmarc stumped up again to his own room.

"Well, my friend, how has it gone?" said Madam Staubach, entering
Peter's chamber, at the door of which she had knocked.

"I have found out the truth," said Peter, solemnly.

"What truth?" Peter shook his head, not desp