"Now guess what the assessor wanted?" said Siegwart, after his daughter had left the arbor.
"Perhaps he wanted the Peter-pence collection," said Frank, smiling.
"No. Herr von Hamm wanted nothing more or less than to marry my daughter!"
Frank was astonished. Although he long since saw through Hamm's designs, he did not expect so sudden and hasty a step.
"And in what manner did he demand her?"
"It is revolting," said the proprietor, much offended. "Herr von Hamm graciously condescends to us peasants. He showed that it would be a great good fortune for us to give our daughter to the noble, the official with brilliant prospects."
"Herr von Hamm does not think little of himself," said Richard drily.
"How did the man ever come to ask my daughter? He and Angela! What opposites!"
"Which, of course, you made clear to him."
"I reminded the gentleman that identity of moral and religious principles alone could render matrimonial happiness possible. I reminded him that Angela was an ultramontane, whose opinions would daily annoy him, while his modern opinions must deeply offend Angela. This I set before him briefly. Then I told him frankly and freely that I did not wish to make either him or Angela unhappy, and at this he went away angrily."