“Ah, yes!” I joyfully broke in, “there is still that hope.”
“In that case I would get exchanged, if possible.”
“Oh, it will be quite possible,” my father assured him. “Hess is to receive the command-in-chief and he is a good friend of mine.” My heart trembled, and yet I could not help admiring both the men. With what a joyful equanimity they spoke of a coming campaign, as if it were only a question of some pleasure trip that had been arranged. My brave Arno was desirous, even if his duty did not summon him, to go and meet the foe, and my magnanimous father thought that quite simple and natural. I collected myself. Away with childish, womanish fear! Now was the time to show myself worthy of this my love, to raise my heart above all egotistic fears and find room for nothing but the noble reflection—“my husband is a hero”.
I sprang up and stretched out both my hands to him: “Arno, I am proud of you!”
He put my hands to his lips, then turned to papa and said, with a face radiant with joy:—
“You have brought the girl up well, father-in-law!”
Rejected! The ultimatum rejected! This took place at Turin, April 26. The die is cast! War has broken out.
CHAPTER II.
Last hours with the beloved one.—Public feeling in the prospect of war.—The parting.—Employments of the women at home.—Anxieties over the news from the seat of war.—Ill-success of Austria.—Friends in trouble.—The Patriotic Aid Association.—Visit to a friend.—Dreadful news.
FOR a week I had been prepared for the catastrophe, and yet its occurrence gave me a bitter blow. I threw myself sobbing on the sofa, and hid my face in the cushion when Arno brought me the news.