"It is all right as far as I am concerned," he said at last, "I have grown very fond of you, and I can trust my daughter's happiness to you, but there are two persons to ask about it--in the first place, my daughter." With one bound Fritz was by Margaret's side. "Margaret," he cried, "will you go with me?" And putting his arm round her, he drew her gently to the table opposite to her father. She let her hands glide down from her face; her eyes were full of tears, but they beamed with affection and confidence, and whilst she gazed at her young lover, she said in a loud firm voice: "Yes!" "Well, that is one person," said old Lohmeier, laughing, "but the consent of the second is a graver matter, I mean your father. These are sad times, and your father, a thorough-going Hanoverian, will scarcely welcome a Prussian daughter-in-law to his house; she is the daughter of a stiff true Prussian, and I would disinherit her if she ever forgot the love she owes her king." Fritz Deyke was silent for a moment. "Herr Lohmeier," he then said, "you know I am a Hanoverian with all my heart and soul, and that it is a great grief to me that we are now to be Prussian, but what can I do, or how can Margaret help it? We did not make the politics and we can't change them; would to God Prussia and Hanover could come to as good an understanding as we have done. However," he added more warmly, "I cannot complain, for if Prussia takes my country at least it gives me the best thing it has, and my annexation is a peaceful one, of heart to heart." He embraced Margaret, and looked imploringly at the old man. But he continued grave and thoughtful-- "Will your father think so?" he asked. Fritz considered a moment, then he cried suddenly, "Wait a moment!" and rushed from the room. Lohmeier looked after him with surprise. "Where is he going?" he asked. "I think I know," said Margaret; "he has often told me what a great respect his father has for Madame von Wendenstein, and how he will do anything at a word from her." Fritz soon came back. "Madame von Wendenstein begs you to go to her," said he to old Lohmeier with a look of delight. He stood up at once, brushed his sleeve with the tips of his fingers, stroked his grey hair with the palm of his hand and went upstairs. Fritz and Margaret remained alone. He seated himself and gently drew the young girl into a chair beside him. What did they say? So little and yet so much, their speech was so old and yet so new, one more variation on the eternal melody of love, that rings in the human heart from the cradle to the grave, and whose endearing tones pass with the soul into the great harmony of Eternity.