"Really?" repeated he, and added in rather an irritated tone, "it seems to me that you imply that I am one of the oppressors. I hope you don't credit me with having seen the child, and purposely driven on." "No, but you must have seen all the children. Why did you not turn out of the way for them?" "For the village children!" cried the young Count, with such unconcealed astonishment that one could see the thought had never entered his head. "I ought to drive out of the way of my uncle's labouring people?" The proposal seemed to him evidently unheard of, and the young stranger was on the point of answering, but suddenly stopped and leaned forward, listening attentively. A half stifled cry of delight escaped her lips; she involuntarily raised her arms, and was on the point of hurrying away, when she suddenly remembered Hermann's presence. A deep flush suffused her countenance, she let her arms fall and remained where she was, as if rooted to the ground. The Count had followed the direction of her eyes, and now saw the cause of this sudden change. Eugen Reinert, who, after a hasty question in the passage, strode hastily into the room without observing his friend. "Gertrud! _Um Gotteswillen_, you here!" She flew towards him, holding out both hands, with a beaming smile, which transformed and glorified her youthful face, but she appeared at the same time, by a whispered word to draw his attention to the fact that they were not alone. Eugen looked up and almost started. "Oh, Hermann, is it you?" A minute's oppressive pause followed. Gertrud looked surprised and questioningly at Eugen, who, pale and visibly disturbed, held fast her hand without speaking a word. Count Hermann leaned silently against the table with folded arms, and contemplated the pair steadfastly; the hard hostile look his features sometimes wore, almost alarmingly visible at this moment. "Pardon me, Gertrud," began Eugen at last, "I expected to find you alone. You know--?" "No," interrupted she quickly. "I met with this gentleman by chance." It seemed to cost Eugen a tremendous effort to make known his _fiancee_ to Count Arnau, but he took her hand and led her towards him. "My--my _braut_,[5] Hermann! Gertrud, my nearest and best friend, Graf Arnau." Gertrud was on the point of returning Hermann's cold and very measured bow, in the same manner, but at the mention of his name, she gave a sudden start. Her face, so beaming a moment since, became deathly pale, and her widely opened eyes fixed themselves upon the young Count with an expression which startled Eugen, although he could not in the least account for it. "What is the matter, Gertrud? What is it?" "Nothing! nothing!" She strove visibly to command herself, and succeeded in doing so somewhat, but the strange look did not leave her eyes, and she involuntarily retreated gradually, drawing Eugen with her almost by force. Hermann turned away quickly.