"Never! That princess, that will-o'-the-wisp, with the curly hair and little, childish hands! But would Anna Maria remain here forever? Lost in thought, I stood for a moment at the door of the cool cellar. Anna Maria drew a line below her figures, laid the slate aside, and took up a letter. 'From Klaus,' she said, as she caught sight of me. 'I will read it by and by in my room.' On the table lay another letter, significantly smaller than the first, and already opened. Anna Maria noticed that my eyes rested on it a moment, questioningly.
"'Stürmer announces his coming to the harvest festival,' she explained, bending forward quickly and putting something on the table. When she raised her head again a slight flush still lay on her cheeks.
"'You have accepted, Anna Maria?'
"'Yes,' she said, quickly; 'I think it is only right to Klaus.'
"'Klaus has written to Susanna too,' said I; 'did you know it?'
"She quivered, noticeably. 'No,' she replied, 'but that must be.'
"'She has run, the Lord knows where, with her treasure,' I continued, smiling; 'she will probably answer it to-day, too.'
"Anna Maria nodded. 'We will go up,' she said; 'I would like to read, too.' We went through the busy kitchen and up the stairs. Anna Maria went at once to her room, and I to the upper story, to seek my own room. In the hall I stopped; the sound of Susanna's sobbing came to my ear, and the indignant voice of the old woman:
"'For shame, Susanna!'
"'No, I cannot, I will not!' sobbed the girl.