Egon complied, but he himself was so filled with all kinds of conflicting thoughts and emotions that his heart was not in his music, and he soon arose from the instrument. It was impossible to resume the customary happy evening talk, all were absent and uncomfortable in mind, and the circle broke up at an unusually early hour.
On the following day both Lieschen and her mother were depressed in spirits. They scarcely spoke during dinner, and but for the talk between the master of the house and his inspectors there would have been absolute silence.
When the time came for the afternoon ride Fritzchen was about to rush off to order the horses, but Lieschen detained him.
"Let us take a little walk to-day, Herr Pigglewitch," she said. "My father wishes me to arrange some flowers in Bertha von Massenburg's room, so I cannot be away from home long, and yet I have a great deal to say to you. I do not want to ride to-day, we can talk so much more easily on foot."
"Oh, Lieschen, it is delightful to gallop across the fields, and you always talk all the time to Herr Pigglewitch," Fritz cried out, with a discontented air, but Egon pacified him by promising to ride with him after their walk, and the little fellow ran on before the pair who sauntered slowly out into the fields.
In the narrow path along which they strolled Lieschen walked close by Egon's side. She had said that she had much to say to him, but she seemed unable to begin, and even when Egon asked the name of a distant hamlet she gave a brief, hasty reply, and then walked on with downcast eyes, until her companion, eager to put an end to the uncomfortable silence, asked, directly, "What have you to say to me, Fräulein Lieschen?"
She looked up at him.
"You are right to remind me; it is folly to delay asking your advice, since I have made up my mind to do so. I do not often need advice, my own feeling tells me what I ought to do, and I follow its promptings, but to-day it leaves me in the lurch, I am doubtful whether I feel and judge rightly, wherefore I want to ask your advice, only you must promise me, Herr Pigglewitch, to tell me your opinion frankly, even at the risk of offending me."
"I promise you."
"It really is strange for me to turn to you for advice. When you came to us two weeks ago, I had no confidence in you, you talked so oddly, and ridiculed what I held sacred,--I was almost afraid of you. I thought you could not be a good man. Do you remember I told you so the first day you came?"