“He has come!” cried Marie, and her face beamed with delight. “He calls me! I am coming!--Farewell, dear, peaceful room, where I have so toiled, wept, and suffered! I shall never see thee again! My beloved calls me, and I go to follow him even unto death! Pardon me, O God! Thou seest that I cannot do otherwise! They would force me to perjury, and I dare not break my oath! I cannot forsake him whom I love!--When they curse me, Trude, kneel, and implor God to bless me, who is the Father of love! My conscience does not reproach me. I have worked for them when they needed it; now their adopted son, to whom they have sold their name, allows them a yearly rent, and I can work for myself.” “Hark! there is the post-horn again, you must go,” murmured Trude, struggling to force back her tears. “Bless me, mother,” implored Marie, kneeling. “God’s blessing go with you,” she said, laying her hands upon her head, “and may it render of no avail the curses of men, but permit you to walk in love and happiness!” “Amen, amen!” sighed Marie, “now farewell, dear mother, farewell!” Marie rose, and kissing Trude again, flitted down the stairs, and out of the house, Trude following, holding her breath and listening in fearful excitement. Again resounded the post-horn. “They are gone,” murmured Trude, bowing her head and praying long and fervently. The general was particularly fortunate this evening, which caused him to be unusually cheerful and satisfied. After every rubber he gathered up the thalers, until he had amassed a most satisfactory pile. As the clock struck ten, Frau von Werrig declared that they must finish and go to bed. The general yielded, with a sigh, to her decision, for he knew, by long years of experience, that it would be in vain to defy her will. He shoved his winnings into a leather bag, which he always carried with him, and gave Leberecht the order to roll away his chair, when the servant, with a solemn bow, stepped closely to him, and begged the general to listen to him a moment. “Well, what have you to say?” he asked. “I have only one request--that you will permit me to prove that I am a faithful servant, who looks out for the good of his employers. You have given Trude five hundred thalers that she might watch over your daughter. I can show you how well she deserved it, and how differently your humble servant would have done.--Have the goodness, Frau von Werrig, to call Trude to bid Fraulein come down, for you have something important to communicate to her.” His mistress proudly regarded him and seemed to try to read his meaning in his smiling, humble face. “And if my daughter comes, what have you to say?” “If she comes, then I am a miserable fool and scoundrel, but I beg you to call Trude.” It was a long time before the old woman appeared, confused and sleepy, asking--“what they wanted at such a late hour?” “Go and tell my daughter that I wish to see her at once.”