"Dare!" exclaimed Alette; "she must dare it, for you strengthen my word by your deed. Is he not a despot, Susanna?"
"Am I a despot, Susanna? I say a thousand times 'No!' thereto. What dost thou say?"
"I say—nothing," said Susanna, blushing, with a graceful movement, and drew closer to Alette; "but—I think what I will."
"It is good, however," cried Harald, "that I have found out a way to have the last word!"
"Have you discovered that, brother-in-law?" said Lexow, laughing; "now, that is almost a more important discovery than that which Columbus made. Impart it to me above all things."
"It will serve you nothing at all," said Alette, as, with jesting defiance, she turned her pretty little head towards him; "because my last word is, in every case, a different kind of one to yours."
"How?"
"Yes. My last word, as well as my last thought, remains—Alf!"
"My Alette! my sweet Alette! why these tears?"
"Susanna," whispered Harald, "I will prepare you for it in time, that my last word remains—Sanna!"