"Not at all—not at all!" cried Christina; "it would make me quite miserable if Adolphus were my brother."
"It is all you must think him, nevertheless. He has no fortune; he has nothing but his commission; and my generosity is"——
"Immense, my dear father; inexhaustible! And then Adolphus is so brave—so magnanimous; and, upon my word, when I saw how much he liked me, and heard him speak so much more delightfully than any body else, I never thought of asking if he was rich; and you know you love him yourself, dear father."
Christina neglected the pug in her lap for a moment, and laid her hand coaxingly on the old man's shoulder.
"But not enough to make him my heir," said the Count, gruffly. Christina renewed her attentions to the dog.
"He would be your heir notwithstanding," she said, "if I were to die."
There was something in the tone of her voice, or the idea suggested of her death, that softened the old man. He looked for a long time at the young and beautiful face of his child; and the shade of uneasiness her words had raised, disappeared from his brow.
"There is nothing but life there," he said, gently tapping her on the forehead; "and therefore I must marry you, my girl!"
"And you will make us the happiest couple in the world. Adolphus will be so grateful," said Christina, her bright eyes sparkling through tears.
"Who the devil said a word about Adolphus?" said the father, looking angrily at Christina; but he added immediately in a softer tone, when he saw the real emotion of his daughter—"Poor girl, you have been sadly spoiled! You have had too much of your own way, and now you ask me to do what is impossible. Be a reasonable girl, there's a darling! and your aunt will present you at court. You will see such grand things—you will know our gallant young King—only be reasonable!"