inclinations. Scarce one man in a thousand could have done this; and
you were this one: you have done it too without losing anything of
your good nature, and kindly obliging disposition. If therefore you
would like to settle elsewhere hereafter and in a totally different
line of life, I cannot have the slightest objection to it, nor will it
occasion the least curtailment of your fortune. But you must tell me
your determination frankly, if you have already made up your mind, or
can make it up on the instant: for in case you choose to remain here
and carry on my business, I must secure you the means of exerting
yourself usefully, by a number of arrangements and explicit
incontrovertible injunctions in my will; therefore speak."

Edward replied with emotion: "Heaven grant you may long remain as a
father amongst us! Whether however I am to look on this country as my
home or no, depends solely upon you: a word from you, and I can
immediately resolve to spend the whole of my life here, even if you
should be spared to us many years longer. But if you cannot or will
not speak that word, I must sooner or later seek out another home; and
I fear that in that case even your noble bequest will fail to procure
me that happiness, which I must needs value higher than riches."

"I don't understand you, my young friend," answered Balthasar; "your
words are a riddle to me."

"Your generosity," continued Edward, "and your affectionate
benevolence have brought up a poor orphan girl; you have behaved like
a father to her; and her fate must therefore be decided by you and
none else. Give me that dear maiden, give me Rose for my wife, and I
will live and die on this mountain, without a wish beyond it."

The old man's face suddenly darkened and put on an expression which
might be called terrific. He started up hastily, walkt several times
up and down the room, then sat down again sighing, and began in a
bitter tone: "So! this is it! You are in love! Is it not so? I am
doomed again to hear this ill-omened, this calamitous word! I am
doomed to witness this frenzy, this dark, heart-rending, heart-sickening
absurdity, even in you, in a man of your sense! And all, all that one
might otherwise esteem, and look upon as reasonable, is swallowed up
in this whirlpool, in which horrour, madness, wild passions, carnal
lust, and capricious folly are frothing and boiling all at once. This
marriage however, Edward, can never, never be."

"I have said too