"No, no," cried the mother, sobbing again, "you none of you take it seriously enough. I cannot bring myself to consent, I have hardly exchanged half a dozen words with this Linden. Oh, what unheard-of presumption!" She rose from her chair, and crimson with excitement threw herself on the lounge.
"Now look out for hysterics," whispered Arthur, indifferently, taking out a cigar.
Jenny answered only by a look, but that was blighting. She took her train in her hand and swept past her astonished husband.
"Take me with you," he said, gayly.
"Jenny, stay with me," cried her mother, "don't leave me now."
And the young wife turned back, met her husband at the door, and passed him with her nose in the air to sit down beside her mother.
Oh, he had a long account to settle with her; she would have her revenge yet for his disagreeable remarks at the breakfast-table when she quite innocently praised Colonel von Brelow. He was not expecting anything pleasant either; she could see that at once, but only let him wait a little!
"How, mamma?" she inquired, "did you think I had anything to say to Arthur? Bah! He is an Othello--a blind one--they are always the worst."
"Ah, Jenny, that unhappy child--Gertrude."
"Oh, yes, to be sure," assented the young wife, "that stupid nonsense of Gertrude's--"