"Let me go, I entreat you! and I will tell the Baron ..."
"And I wish you to tell him nothing. I wish you to remain where you are, and to appear as unconcerned as possible to all, specially to Erna, if she should come to you, which, however, I doubt; and mind that you do not betray one word of what we have been discussing here. Will you promise that?"
"I promise everything you wish."
"I shall not be ungrateful."
Lydia gazed after him with tears in her eyes as he hurried away. "I shall not be ungrateful," he had said; and saying that, he had pressed her hand--for the first time since they had met--and supposing, supposing that it came to pass after all!
Major von Keberstein approached her again, and said laughingly-- "You seem to have had quite a long confidential conversation with the gentleman who carried you off so abruptly from my side. And then a poor old bachelor like me is not to get jealous!"
"I will do my best now to make up for it."
"It will take you all your time, we shall have to tramp back to our quarters in ten minutes."
"Can you not throw in half an hour?"
"Not for worlds!" exclaimed the major, replacing his watch which he had been consulting. "My orders are very strict."