She put her ear to the keyhole, and then her eye, to see how the quarrellers looked. At first the general and his wife were quite alarmed, and almost speechless as they witnessed the joyful meeting of the lovers. The father sprang up suddenly, with clinched fist, but instead of bitter invectives only a fearful shriek of pain was heard, as he sank groaning and whimpering into his armchair. The gout had again seized its victim. Anger had excited the general’s blood, and had also brought on the pain in his leg again. His wife took no notice of his cries and groans, for it was quite as agreeable to her to be the only speaker, and have her moaning husband a kind of assenting chorus. “Leave each other!” she commanded, as she approached the lovers, flourishing her long shrivelled arms about. “Leave each other, and leave my house!” Laying her hand on Marie’s arm, which was thrown around her lover’s neck, she endeavored to tear her away, and draw her daughter toward herself. But Marie clung only the more firmly, and Moritz pressed her more fervently to his heart. They heeded not and heard not the outburst of anger which the mother gave way to. They read in each other’s eyes the bliss, the joy of meeting again, and the assurance of constant, imperishable love. “You are pale and thin, my beloved!” “Sorrow for you is consuming me, Marie, but, thank Heaven, you are unchanged, and beautiful as ever!” “Hope and love have consoled and strengthened me, Philip.” “Enough! I forbid you to speak another word to each other,” and with the power which rage lends, the mother tore Marie away. “Herr Moritz, will you tell me by what right you force yourself into our house, and surprise us like a street-thief in our peaceful dwelling? But no! you need not tell me, I will not listen to you. Those who permit themselves to enter our room unasked and unwelcomed--I will have nothing to say to them. Leave! there is the door! Out with you, off the threshold!” With calm demeanor, Moritz now approached Fran von Werrig, demanding her pardon, saying: “You see, madame, that I am not so unwelcome here, therefore you will be obliged to let me remain.” “Yes, that she will,” sneered Trude, outside the door. “It will be difficult for her to send him off so long as I am unwilling.” “No, I will not permit it. We have nothing to do with each other. Out of my sight!--Away!” “Away!” cried the general. “Oh, the gout, the maddening pains! I cannot throw the bold fellow out of the house! I must lie here, and writhe like a worm! I cannot be master of my house. Oh, oh! what pain!” “Stay, Philip,” whispered Marie, as she again leaned toward Moritz. “They wish to sell me and force me to a hated marriage. Do not yield! save me!” “You are mine, Marie; you have sworn to me eternal constancy, and no one can compel you to marry if you do not wish to.”