"I know it all," declared Toni in her quiet, drawling tone. "Have known it for a week."
The effect of this declaration was so depressing that the two angry parents were dumb, and looked at one another stupefied. In the meantime Toni continued with the utmost composure:
"Will told me all about it just as soon as he got here; and he spoke so simply and with such true heartedness that he made me weep from very sympathy; then a letter came from Marietta begging my pardon, and it was so loving and penitent in its tone that I was deeply moved. There was nothing for me to do but to give back my lover his freedom."
"Without asking us?" interposed her aunt.
"No questions were necessary in this case," Antonie answered, quietly. "I cannot marry a man who declares to me that he loves another woman. So we dissolved our engagement without any further discussion."
"Indeed, and I learn it now for the first time. You two have become very independent, all at once," cried the head forester, enraged.
"Will meant to explain to you the next day, papa, but after such an explanation he felt he could not remain here longer, and just then Marietta was called home by her grandfather's illness. She was nearly broken hearted when she thought he would die, and Will felt he could not leave her until he knew what would be the result of the illness. So I said to keep silence until the danger was over, and then speak. We have both gone daily to the cottage to cheer poor Marietta. They are so grateful to me and call me the guardian angel of their love."
The young girl seemed quite affected by this thought, and took her handkerchief to wipe the tears which were welling up in her eyes.
Frau von Eschenhagen stood stark and stiff as a statue.
Schönau had folded his arms, and said with a deep sigh: