Sara's state of feeling with respect to the
affair. She was summoned to their presence. The Judge handed to her
Schwartz's letter, and awaited impatiently her remarks upon it. Her
colour paled before the grave and searching glance which was riveted
upon her, but she declared herself quite willing to accept Schwartz's
proposal.

Astonishment and vexation painted themselves on the countenance of her
adopted father.

"Ah, Sara," said the mother, after a short silence, "have you well
considered this? Do you think that Schwartz is a man who can make a wife
happy?"

"He can make me happy," returned Sara; "happy according to my own mind."

"You can never, never," said the mother, "enjoy domestic happiness with
him!"

"He loves me," returned Sara, "and he can give me a happiness which I
never enjoyed here. I lost early both father and mother, and in the home
into which I was received out of charity, all became colder and colder
towards me!"

"Ah, do not think so, Sara!" said the mother. "But even if this were
the case, may not some little of it be your own fault? Do you really do
anything to make yourself beloved? Do you strive against that which
makes you less amiable?"

"I can renounce such love," said Sara, "as will not love me with my
faults. Nature gave me strong feelings and inclinations, and I cannot
bring them into subjection."

"You will not, Sara," was the reply.

"I cannot! and it may be that I will not," said she, "submit myself to
the subjugation and taming which has been allotted as the share of the
woman. Why should I? I feel strength in myself to break up a new path
for myself. I will lead a fresh and an independent life! I will live a
bright artiste-life, free from the trammels and the Lilliputian
considerations of domestic life. I will be free! I will not, as now, be
watched and suspected, and be under a state of espionage! I will be free
from the displeasure and blame which now dog my footsteps! This
treatment it is, mother, which has determined my resolution."

"If," answered the mother, in a tremulous voice, and deeply affected by
Sara's words and tone, "I have erred towards you--and I may have done
so--I know well that it has not been from temper, or out of want of
tenderness towards you. I have spoken to and warned you from the best
conviction; I have sincerely endeavoured and desired that which is best
for you, and this you will some time or other come to see even better
than now.[14] You w