"Anna Maria was silent for a moment. 'No,' she said then, as if to herself, lifting up her arms—'no, Klaus is not capable of such an error. I believe in Klaus. His kind heart, his compassion for the orphan, impel him to be hard toward me; our opinions as to Susanna's welfare are so contrary. But I know, aunt, that Klaus loves me so much, that I stand before any other in his heart, so I will gladly bear the harshness; perhaps he has borne something harder for my sake. When Susanna is gone we shall find the old good-will back again.'
"'I do not believe that Susanna will go away, will be allowed to go away,' I threw in, uncertainly, touched by her confidence.
"Her eyes shone. 'Leave that to me, Aunt Rosa,' she replied; 'she shall go, take my word for it.'
"'And if you vex Klaus afresh by such a demand?'
"'Klaus desires Susanna's best good, and he will find some other place for her as soon as he learns that he is not an object of indifference to her. Klaus is a man of honor, and a glance will suffice.'
"'What, Anna Maria?' I groaned; 'you would inform him that—that——'
"'Yes,' she replied.
"'I beg you, Anna Maria, do not do it; do not pour oil on the fire, my child; be silent——'
"'Never, aunt; I have been silent too long already!' she said decidedly. 'I saw it coming on, it had to come, and I had not the courage to warn Klaus, and say: "Protect this child from the saddest thing that can come to a maiden's heart; do not let it awaken into a first love, which must then be renounced."'
"'Anna Maria, for Heaven's sake,' I implored, 'how do you know so certainly that Susanna no longer regards Klaus with indifference? You cannot take her feverish talk for anything positive. She talks about Stürmer as well as Klaus. I beg you, keep silent. It is only a conjecture of yours; Susanna may be in a state of uncertainty still, herself.'