Willibald left the room, not in the least remembering that he was deserting his post. He was thinking of something quite different as he stood for a few moments in the little ante-room. In consequence of this meditation he finally descended the stairs and turned his steps straight to the house of the castle gardener.
He had scarcely left when Marietta sprang up and exclaimed with comic vehemence: "Gracious heavens! what a tiresome couple you are!"
"But, Marietta----"
"Yes, whether you are offended or not, I declare it is a sacrifice to friendship to stand it in your presence, and I had anticipated such a jolly time when I heard you were engaged. You were never particularly lively, but your betrothed seems to have lost his speech entirely. How did you manage to become engaged? Did he actually speak then, or did his mamma attend to that?"
"Stop your foolishness," replied Antonie, displeased. "Willy is only so silent in your presence. He can be quite entertaining when we are alone."
"Yes, over the new threshing machine he has bought. When I came I listened a moment before I entered. He was singing the praise of the before-mentioned threshing machine, and you were listening attentively. Oh, you will reign as a model couple, but--may heaven protect me in mercy from such a marriageable blessing!"
"You are very naughty. Marietta," said the young Baroness, now really angry, but her mischievous little friend instantly clung to her neck.
"Don't be mad, Toni. I do not mean any harm, and wish you happiness with all my heart, but you see my husband has to be of a different nature."
"Ah, and how, pray?" asked Toni, half pouting, half reconciled by the coaxing plea.
"First, he has to be under my command, and not under his mother's. Second, he must be a genuine man in whose protection I feel safe. He need not talk much--I do that--but he must love me so much--so much that he will not talk about papa or mamma, or his estates, or the new threshing machine, but let them all go if only he has--me."