Turning to Pranken, he cried,—
"Leave us! Herr von Pranken. Leave me alone with her!"
"No," was the reply. "I will not leave you alone with your daughter. I have loved her. I have a right to protect her."
Sonnenkamp supported himself by grasping the table. A vertigo seemed to seize him, and he cried,—
"Do you hear, Manna? Do you hear? And will you reject such a nobleman? Revoke your decision, my child; I will implore you on my knees. See, how perverted your mind is! I have enough to bear already. Do not heap this upon me, too. Look at this man! can you refuse such a one? Manna, you are a sensible, good child. You have only been playing with us; you have only wished to test us. See, you are smiling. I thank you, I thank you for this trial. By means of it, you have obtained a fresh proof of his nobleness. Manna, there he stands. Take him in your arms. I will gladly die; I will do whatever the world demands: only fulfil this one request."
"I cannot, father, I cannot."
"You can, and you will."
"Believe me, father"—
"Believe you?—you, who but lately declared with such firmness, 'I will become a nun!' The infirm of purpose cannot be trusted."
"Father, it pains me unspeakably to be obliged to wound you and Herr von Pranken thus."