es," answered her mother, hastily, "it is so decided upon, and it
will be carried out. You may naturally, my dear daughter, have some
preference; so make it known--I am sure your betrothed will joyfully
accord it."

"I will avail myself of this permission," she quietly answered. "I wish
to have a private conversation with this gentleman immediately, and
without witnesses."

"Oh, how unfortunate I am!" sighed Herr Ebenstreit. "My dear Marie asks
just that which I unfortunately cannot grant her."

"What should prevent your fulfilling my wish?" asked Marie.

"My promise," he whined. "On the very day of my betrothal, I was obliged
to promise my dear mother-in-law never to speak with you alone or
correspond with my sweet lady-love."

"These are the rules of decency and of etiquette, which I hope my
daughter will respect," said Frau von Werrig, in a severe tone. "No
virtuous young girl would presume to receive her betrothed alone or
exchange love-letters with him before marriage!"

"After the wedding there will be opportunities enough for such follies,"
grumbled the general.

"You may be sure that I shall use them, dear father," laughed
Ebenstreit. "I would beg my respected mother to release me a half-hour
from my oath to-day, that I may indulge the first expressed wish that my
future wife favors me with."

"It is impossible, my son. I never deviate from my principles. You will
not speak with my daughter before marriage, except in the presence of
her parents."

"Mother, do you insist upon it?" cried Marie, terrified. "Will you not
indulge this slight wish?"

"'This slight wish!'" sneered her mother. "As if I did not know why you
ask this private conversation. You wish to persuade our son-in-law to
what you in vain have tried to implore your parents to do. A modest
maiden has nothing to say to her future husband, which her parents, and
above all her mother, could not hear. So tell your betrothed what you
desire."

"Well, mother, you must then take the consequences.--Herr Ebenstreit,
they will force me to become your wife, they will sell me as merchandise
to you, and you have accepted the bargain in good faith, believing that
I agree to sacrifice my freedom and human rights for riches. They have
deceived you, sir! I am not ready to give myself up to the highest
bidder. I am a woman, with a heart to love and hate, who esteems
affection superior to wealth. I cannot marry you, and I beg you not to
teach me to hate y