A bright fire was burning in the drawing-room, where stood the Christmas-tree, which was, according to custom, to be relighted, then thoroughly stripped, chopped up, and burned on New Year's eve. Magelone and Johanna were busy replacing upon it candles which had burned down. Aunt Thekla and Hildegard sat beside the fire; Hedwig stood at the window, looking out into the driving snow. "If our husbands were only back again!" she said. "Inconceivable to wish to ride out in such a storm." "It looks worse than it is," said Johanna. "I came back only half an hour ago from the village; it was glorious to breast the wind." "A strange predilection!" Hildegard exclaimed. "But you did not go alone?" Before Johanna could reply, the door was noisily opened, and the Freiherr entered. It was so unusual for him to join the family at this hour that Aunt Thekla, startled, arose and went towards him. "Do not disturb yourself!" he said, beginning to pace the room to and fro. "Detestable weather!" he exclaimed, as a blast of wind shook the windows. "I ought to have sent the carriage. There's no knowing whether or not Waldemar can get a conveyance in Thalrode now; it is too late." "The carriage is at Thalrode, grandpapa," said Johanna. "Johann Leopold drove over." "Without my knowledge?" cried the Freiherr, standing still in the middle of the room. His eyes gleamed in the firelight. "You were asleep, grandpapa, and Johann Leopold had to hurry to catch the two-o'clock train. He had something to attend to in town, he said, but would return to Thalrode in the four-o'clock train. If my cousin Waldemar comes, they will surely meet." "Indeed they will. We may rely upon that. From their very infancy they always stood by each other in every silly prank," the Freiherr said, but in a tone so kindly that Aunt Thekla breathed afresh. "How did you know all this, my dear Johanna?" Magelone asked, as the Freiherr resumed his walk. "As I was starting for the village, Johann Leopold was just driving off," she replied, "and he took me and my bundles as far as the parsonage----" "It was odd not to bid us good-by!" said Magelone. Hildegard approached her. "Why, child, he probably feared your tender remonstrances," she said, scornfully, "or it may perhaps have occurred to him at the twelfth hour to purchase you a betrothal-gift." Magelone shrugged her shoulders impatiently. At this moment old Christian entered with the lamp, followed by Otto, who handed a letter to the Freiherr. "From Waldemar," he said. "It has just been brought by an express from Thalrode." "He's not coming; I knew it," whispered Magelone. The Freiherr went to the light and began to read, his face brightening at every word. Before he had finished the sheet he cried out, "This is a surprise! The boy could not have pleased me more. He is betrothed!" "Waldemar! Betrothed? To whom?" several voices exclaimed together.