"He cannot interfere with my decisions."
Barbara threw her off and bounded through the door crying:
"We shall see!"
The girl rushed past the guard at the door of Wolf's office, trembling with rage, her eyes filled with blinding tears.
Wolf sprang to his feet in astonishment and met her with outstretched hands.
"What's the matter, child?" he asked as his big coarse fists closed over the hot little fingers and his gray eyes lighted at the sight of her dishevelled hair and bare throat.
Barbara choked back the sobs, and looked appealingly into Wolf's face.
"We have quarrelled about last night. You understand, Herman. Catherine has ordered me to leave my room and join the servants in the halls. You—you will not allow me to be degraded thus—will you?"
Wolf drew the trembling girl into his arms, pressed her close a moment, stroked her curls with his gnarled hand, and his face flushed with a look of triumph.
"Don't worry, dear, I'll protect you," he answered, bending and kissing her forehead. "Go back to your room, and if any one dares to disturb you, call for me."