"If Herr Nordeck would only make up his mind to come!" said the Assessor. "He has no suspicion, I dare say, of what is going on here on his property."
Frank shrugged his shoulders. "The young master? As if he ever troubled his head about Wilicza! He has never set foot in it for the last ten years; he likes roaming about the world better. I hoped that, on reaching his majority, he would come here for some length of time, and there was some talk of it at first; but he stayed away, and sent us instead his lady mother, who lost no time in assuming the reins of government. None of the officials are in direct communication with him. We send in all our accounts, make our payments, and address all our statements and demands to the magistrate at L----. Besides, before I decided to go, I tried my last resource, and wrote to Herr Nordeck myself. I knew that my position was untenable; but I thought it my duty, after twenty years' service, to make him acquainted with the doings here, and to tell him frankly that, if matters went on so, not even his fortune would be able to stand it. I sent the letter off a month ago, and--would you believe it?--I have never had an answer. No, from that quarter there is nothing to hope.--But with all this worry, I am forgetting that we are sitting in the dark. I can't think why Gretchen does not bring in the lamp as usual. She probably does not know you are here."
"Yes, she does," said the Assessor, in a tone of pique. "Fräulein Margaret was in the hall when I drove up; but she did not give me time to speak to her. She ran upstairs as fast as she could, right up to the garret."
Frank looked a little embarrassed.
"No, no, you must have been mistaken."
"Right up to the garret," repeated the little gentleman, emphatically, raising his eyebrows and looking fixedly at the steward, as though calling on him to join in his indignation; but Frank only laughed.
"I am sorry for it; but with the best will in the world, I can't help you."
"You can help me very much," cried the Assessor, warmly. "A father's authority is unbounded, and if you were to say to your daughter that it was your will and desire ..."
"That I will never do," interrupted Frank, with quiet decision. "You know that I place no obstacle in the way of your suit. I believe you have a sincere affection for my daughter, and I have no objection to make to you either personally or as regards your circumstances; but to obtain the girl's consent is your business. I shall not meddle with that. If she, of her own accord, thinks fit to say yes, you'll be welcome to me as a son-in-law; but I must say there seems to me little chance of it."
"You are wrong, Herr Frank," said the Assessor, confidently. "You are most decidedly wrong. True, Fräulein Margaret sometimes treats me rather strangely--inconsiderately, I may say; but that is nothing but the usual bashfulness of young girls. They like to be sought and won, like to hold back, so as to make the prize of greater value. I understand them perfectly. Make your mind easy. I shall certainly succeed."