'Never, never shall I forget them, and the agony that I suffered on one particular evening, when I heard you laughing, and deemed you heartless, dear cousin. How I then loathed the name of Heinrich—it seems wonderful now!'
'So now do I loathe that of the Baron. Oh, Herminia, few like me have to endure misery without the prospect of relief!'
In the evening after Rhineberg had withdrawn, the Countess, whose mind was still running on her daughter's evident emotion at the name of Burtscheid, gave vent to the anger and suspicion that excited her.
'Did you ever go to Burtscheid with Herr Pierrepont?' she asked abruptly.
'Never, mamma,' replied Ernestine, blushing again, but at her own quibble rather than the question of her mother, who, after eyeing her narrowly, almost sternly for a minute, said—
'You still pine for that insolent young man. I can see it in your face, Ernestine!'
'Oh, mamma!' said the girl, with a wonderful tenderness of tone, 'is it a crime to love?'
'Not if it is a proper love.'
'Then why, mamma darling, are you so severe on me?' asked Ernestine, nestling in her mother's neck in the most endearing manner.
'I wish to protect and guide you, and to teach you that you must not love one who is beneath you.'