"Yes--no--that is to say, I have seen her; I have seen her at the parsonage, and she has often been here, with my wife, and my wife also has visited her. I know her merely by sight; a pretty girl, a very pretty girl, 'pon honor! I was pleased with her, as a child, at my father's funeral." "And when you learned, that she was dear to me, did you not seek a nearer acquaintance?" "No, Franz, no! Why should I? I knew, of course, that nothing serious could come of such an attachment." "Then you knew more than I." "Oh, I know more still, I know how they set traps and snares for you, and were always contriving ways to catch you." "And from whom did you learn all this? But why do I ask? Such childish gossip could have been hatched in but one house, in the whole region. But since we have mentioned the matter, I will tell you frankly, that I certainly do intend to marry the girl, that is, if she does not refuse me." "She would better beware! She would better beware!" exclaimed Axel, springing about the room, in his anger. "Will you really commit this folly? And will you give me this affront?" "Axel, look to your words!" cried Franz, whose temper was getting the upper hand. "What business is it of yours?" "What? Does it not not concern _me_, as the oldest representative of our old family, if one of the younger members disgraces himself by a _mésalliance_." Yet once more Franz restrained himself, and said: "You yourself married from pure inclination, and without regard for subordinate matters. "That is quite another thing," said Axel, with authority, believing now that he had the advantage. "My wife's family is as good as mine, she is the daughter of an old house; your beloved is the daughter of my inspector, adopted out of pity and kindness, by the Pastor's family." "For shame!" cried Franz, passionately, "to make an innocent child suffer for a great misfortune!" "It is all the same to me," roared Axel, "I will _not_ call my inspector's daughter cousin; the girl shall never cross my threshold!" All the blood which had rushed through Franz's veins and flushed his face, a moment before, struck to his heart; he stood pale before his cousin, and said in a voice, which trembled with intense excitement: "You have said it. You have spoken the word which divides us. Louise shall never cross your threshold, neither will I." He turned to go; at the door he was met by Frida, who had heard the quarrel in the next room: "Franz, Franz, what is the matter?" "Farewell, Frida," said he, hastily, and went out, towards the farm-house. "Axel," cried Frida, running up to her husband, "what have you done? What have you done?" "I have showed a young man," said Axel, striding up and down the room, as if he had fought a great battle with the world-out-of-joint, and made everything right again, "I have showed a young fellow, who wanted to make a fool of himself over a pretty face, his true standpoint."