"Hold your tongue," said Madame Staubach angrily to her servant. Though she was very indignant with Peter Steinmarc, still it would go much against the grain with her that the match should be broken off. She had resolved so firmly that this marriage was proper for all purposes, that she had almost come to look at it as though it were a thing ordained of God. Then, too, she remembered, even in this moment, that Peter Steinmarc had received great provocation. Her immediate object was to persuade him that nothing had been done to give him further provocation. No fault had been committed by Linda which had not already been made known to him and been condoned by him. But how was she to explain all this to him in privacy, while Tetchen was in the kitchen, and Linda was in the parlour opposite? "Peter, on my word as an honest truthful woman, Linda has been guilty of no further fault." "She has been guilty of more than enough," said Peter. "That may be said of all us guilty, frail, sinful human beings," rejoined Madame Staubach. "I doubt whether there are any of us so bad as she is," said Peter. "I wonder, madame, you can condescend to argue with him," said Tetchen; "as if all the world did not know that the fraulein is ten times too good for the like of him!" "Hold your tongue," said Madame Staubach. "And where is Miss Linda at the present moment?" demanded Peter. Madame Staubach hesitated for an instant before she answered, and then replied that Linda was in the parlour. It might seem, she thought, that there was some cause for secrecy if she made any concealment at the present moment. Then Peter made his way out of the kitchen and across the passage, and without any invitation entered the parlour. Madame Staubach followed him, and Tetchen followed also. It was unfortunate for Madame Staubach's plans that the meeting between Peter and Linda should take place in this way, but she could not help it. But she was already making up her mind to this,--that if Peter Steinmarc ill-treated her niece, she would bring all Nuremberg about his ears. "Linda Tressel," he said;--and as he spoke, the impetuosity of indignation to which he had worked himself had not as yet subsided, and therefore he was full of courage;--"Linda Tressel, I find that that vagabond Ludovic Valcarm has again been here." "He is no vagabond," said Linda, turning upon him with full as much indignation as his own. "All the city knows him, and all the city knows you too. You are no better than you should be, and I wash my hands of you." "Let it be so," said Linda; "and for such a blessing I will pardon you the unmanly cruelty of your words."