ve rarely seen her in
such good spirits as since your return."

"And you, you little witch?"

"I? Of course I was glad--we all were.--And your parents!"

"Nay, nay, Katharina! What you yourself felt when we met once more, that
is what I want to know."

"Oh, let that pass! How can I describe such a thing?"

"Is that quite impossible?" he asked and clasped her arm more closely
in his own. He must win her over, and his romantic fancy helped him to
paint feelings he had never had, in glowing colors. He poured out sweet
words of love, and she was only too ready to believe them. At a sign
from him she sat down confidingly on a wooden bench in the old avenue
which led to the northern side of the house. Flowers were opening on
many of the shrubs and shedding rich, oppressive perfume. The moonlight
pierced through the solemn foliage of the sycamores, and shimmering
streaks and rings of light played in the branches, on the trunks, and on
the dark ground. The heat of the day still lingered in the leafy roofs
overhead, sultry and heavy even now; and in this alley he called her
for the first time his own, his betrothed, and enthralled her heart in
chains and bonds. Each fervent word thrilled with the wild and painful
agitation that was torturing his soul, and sounded heartfelt and
sincere. The scent of flowers, too, intoxicated her young and
inexperienced heart; she willingly offered her lips to his kisses, and
with exquisite bliss felt the first glow of youthful love returned.

She could have lingered thus with him for a lifetime; but in a few
minutes he sprang up, anxious to put an end to this tender dalliance
which was beginning to be too much even for him, and exclaimed:

"This cursed, this infernal trial! But such is the fate of man! Duty
calls, and he must return from all the bliss of Paradise to the world
again. Give me your arm, my only love, my all!"

And Katharina obeyed. Dazzled and bewildered by the extraordinary
happiness that had come to meet her, she allowed him to lead her on,
listening with suspended breath as he added: "Out of this beatitude back
to the sternest of duties!--And how odious, how immeasurably loathesome
is the case in question! How gladly would I have been a friend to Paula,
a faithful protector instead of a foe!"

As he spoke he felt the girl's left hand clench tighter on his arm,
and this spurred him on in his guilty purpose. Katharina herself had
suggested to his mind the course he must p