Bertha's cheek began to grow warm, and she answered, in a hesitating tone, "I can't say I dislike him, my lord--I like him as well as any other man."
"I must have something more than that, pretty Bertha," replied her lord, with a slight degree of malice. "I am too grateful for all you have done to serve those I love, to let you wed a man to whom your whole heart is not given. You must like him better than any other man, or never marry him."
"Well, perhaps I do like him a little better than most," answered Bertha, with a sigh at her confession.
"Well enough to make a very good wife, my lord the Count," interposed the page.
"Never believe that any woman will make a good wife who does not love her husband, young gentleman," rejoined the Lord of Ehrenstein. "Do you love him with all your heart, Bertha?"
"Yes," whimpered the girl.
"Better than any?"
"Yes."
"Better than all? Would you give your life for him? Will you give it up to him?"
"Yes, yes, yes," she replied, and burst into a fit of tears.