Frau von Eschenhagen stood stiff and rigid as a statue, but Schonan folded his hands and said with a resigned sigh: "May God bless your kindness, my child! but such a thing has never happened before. And you have arranged the affair very smoothly, I must confess. You have sat and looked quietly on while your betrothed made love to another girl."
Antonie shook her head impatiently. Apparently she liked the rôle of guardian angel, and found her position one she could fill without any great exertion, since her affection for her betrothed had always been a very cool one.
"There was no sign of love-making, as the doctor was too seriously ill," she returned. "Marietta cried incessantly and we had plenty to do to console her. Now you see and understand that I am not at all betrayed, and that Willy has acted openly and honestly. I asked him myself to be silent to you, and, in fact, the matter concerns us only----"
"Do you think so? It is therefore of no concern to us?" interrupted the Chief Forester furiously.
"No, papa. Willy is of the opinion that we need not mind our parents in this matter at all."
"What does Willibald mean?" demanded Frau von Eschenhagen, who regained her speech at this unheard-of assertion.
"That each must love the other before marrying, and he is right," declared Toni, with unusual vivacity. "It was not in our engagement at all--in fact, we were not even consulted--but I shall not permit it another time. I see now what it means for two people to love each other with all their heart, and how remarkably Willy has changed through it. I, too, want to be loved as Marietta is loved, and if I do not find a man who loves me exactly like that--then I shall not marry at all."
And after this remark Fraulein Antonie walked out of the room with much decision and a highly elevated head, leaving father and aunt in an indescribable condition.
The Chief Forester was the first to regain composure, but suppressed vexation was still in his voice as he turned to his sister-in-law and said: "Your boy has managed nicely, I must confess, Regine. Now Toni wants to be loved also, and begins to get romantic ideas in her head, and Willy seems to be far gone already in that respect. I actually believe he has managed to make this second proposal by himself."
Frau von Eschenhagen paid no attention to this bitter hint of her interference at the former time. Her face bore an expression which promised nothing good.