"What I have always advised. Since I am not allowed to have anything to do with the matter myself, you had better tell Helen: You marry your cousin Baron Felix Grenwitz, and moreover within so and so many days! That is settled! Selah!"
"Are you in earnest?"
"In full earnest! When are you going to give your great ball?"
"Day after to-morrow."
"Good! that is a capital opportunity to make our engagement public. Just tell Helen: If you are not Felix's betrothed by Thursday evening, you march back to school on Friday morning. You will see that will settle it."
"I am afraid the threat will have the opposite effect. They have spoilt Helen in Hamburg. I believe she had rather go back to-day than Friday."
"Eh bien! Then send the little obstinate damsel to Grunwald, to the model institute of Miss Bear. The little Breesen has been brought up there, and she told me the other day it was rather a kind of penitentiary than a boarding-school; but the harder it is the more effective--I mean the threat. For I will be hanged if ma chère cousine lets matters go to such an extremity--pardon me, dear aunt, I know you do not like such strong expressions."
"It is certainly a very bad habit of yours," said the baroness, rising. Felix followed her example.
"Which I shall try to lay aside to please you," he added, offering his arm to the baroness.
"One thing more," said the latter, pausing a moment, "do you believe Grenwitz will consent?"