“No, Anna, not at all, now listen to me. Your father will not be very easily won, in fact we shall have to take him by storm.”
“Dear mother,” cried Anna, “have you not spoken to papa about it yet?”
“Not only will it be hard to gain him” continued Laurentia, coldly, without noticing her daughter’s interruption, “but something would have to happen by which van Nerekool might conciliate him.”
“I feel certain, dearest mother,” cried Anna, “that Charles will do anything to obtain my hand!”
“Do you?” asked Laurentia. “He would do anything you say. Are you quite sure that you are not just a little too sanguine?”
“Oh, mother dear!” cried the girl in a deprecating tone.
“Yes, I said too sanguine; for I have some reason to fear that Charles is not quite so deeply in love as he would wish you to suppose.”
“Mother!” cried Anna, looking up at her reproachfully.
“Don’t interrupt me, Anna. Last night, as you know, I remained for some time in the garden with Mr. van Nerekool after I had, from his own lips, heard the confession of his love.”
“Mamma dear!” cried the young girl, breathlessly, “his confession did you say!”