I remembered his words: "Indeed, thou didst pile mountains on us, but we are people of good will, though quick-tempered." That simplicity crushed me the more, the greater the mountains which I had piled on them yesterday. Not a word beyond these, no lofty phrases, a playful smile,--that was all. When I thought of this I could not restrain myself longer; I seized his hand, and raised it with reverence to my lips. He smiled again with that kindly clear smile, and said,-- "My wife and I have said this long time that our son-in-law must love us." And it happened as they wished, for before I was their son-in-law I loved them as if I had been their own son. As I was walking very fast, Tola's father began to jest; he puffed, and pretended to be suffering, said that he could not keep pace with me, complained of the heat. In fact, the winter had broken the day before. A warm breeze wrinkled the water in the city garden, and in the air there was a species of revival, a kind of spring power. At last we were in front of the house. Something vanished from the window and disappeared in the depth of the room; I was not sure that it was Tola. On the steps my heart began to throb again. I feared the mother. When we had passed the dining-hall we found her in the drawing-room. As I entered, she approached me quickly and reached out her hand, which I kissed reverentially and with gratitude, stammering meanwhile,-- "How have I deserved this?" "Forgive us yesterday's refusal," said she. "We had not thought of this, that Tola could find no greater attachment in the whole world." "She could not! She could not!" cried I, with ardor. "And since the happiness of our child is for us beyond everything, we give her to you, and I can only say: God grant you both happiness!" She pressed my temples then; after that she turned toward the door and called,-- "Tola!" And my love came in, pale, with reddened eyes, with bits of hair dropping on her forehead, confused, moved just as I was. How it was that nothing in her escaped my attention, I know not. I only know this, I saw tears gathering under her eyelids, her quivering lips, delight breaking through the tears, and a smile under the confusion. She stood for a moment with arms hanging, as if at a loss what to do; then her father, whom, as was evident, humor never deserted, said, shrugging his shoulders,-- "Ha! a hard case to cure! he has grown stubborn, and will not have thee." She looked at me quickly, threw herself on her father's neck, and called, as if in an outburst,-- "I do not believe it; I do not believe it!" If I had followed my heart's first impulse, I should have fallen at her feet. I did not do that simply through lack of courage, and because I had lost my head. I had just presence of mind enough to repeat in any soul, "Do not roar out, thou ass!" The honest father came again to our rescue; freeing himself from Tola's embrace, he said, as if angry with her,--