“Let me go with you,” cried young Zedwitz, starting from his chair.
“Thank you—I can find them without your assistance,” he replied; and then added, maliciously laughing, “I know you have been lounging about this little lake all day, my good fellow, and must be as tired of it as a sentinel of his post.”
Zedwitz laughed too, but he was not so easily put off—he took Hamilton’s arm, and they sallied forth together.
“You were long on guard to-day, Zedwitz, from dinner-time until now!”
“How did you like being caught to drive away the cows? I saw you being led off.”
“At first I did not like it at all—afterwards, very much. I have taken a great fancy to your mother—still more to your sister.”
“My sister is the dearest little soul in the world. If you but knew her as well as I do! I am very sorry she is to be married so soon—her loss will to me be irreparable, and our house so intolerably dull without her, that I shall be under the necessity of choosing a wife with as little delay as possible.”
“Your mother told me she expects you will make a most desirable marriage.”
“With my ugly face?—that is not probable.”
“I understand from the Countess, that you, as well as your sister, were already engaged.”