She took his arm. At that moment the Count, who had looked beyond them, to the hill, turning his eyes downward, saw them both. He gave his horse the spurs, and, galloping down the slope, was with them in an instant. He had already seen Reinhold, doubtless, but as he checked his horse and lifted his hat his face did not show the slightest trace of astonishment or wonder; he seemed rather not to notice Reinhold at all, as if he had met Else alone. "That I call good fortune, Miss Else! How your aunt will rejoice! She is waiting over there; the carriage couldn't go farther----" He pointed with the butt of his whip over the hill. "My Heavens, Miss Else! Even if you look at me twice as astonished! Your aunt is worried because you have been away so long.--Messengers in the neighborhood heard of Pölitz that you had come hither--strange notion, Miss Else, by Heavens!--your aunt insisted upon coming herself--stayed behind with Miss von Wallbach--offered to accompany her--most despairing--astounding luck! Beg permission to accompany you to the carriage, not two hundred paces." He leaped from the saddle and took his horse by the bridle-rein. Reinhold looked Else straight in the eye; she understood and answered the look. "We're very grateful to you, Count," said he, "but shouldn't like to try your kindness a moment longer than is necessary. I shall accompany my betrothed myself to the Baroness." "Oh!" exclaimed the Count. He had rejoiced in advance over the utter confusion which, in his opinion, the discovered lovers must have felt in his presence, and which would shock the Baroness if he could tell her in whose company he had the good fortune to find her niece. For, that the fellow would traipse down to Wissow with an expression of stammering embarrassment, he assumed as a matter of course, now that he had gone so far. And now! He thought he had not heard aright, he could hardly believe his eyes, when Else and the fellow, turning their backs upon him as if he were not there, walked on arm in arm. With a leap he was back in the saddle. "Then allow me, at least, to announce the happy event to the Baroness!" he exclaimed ironically, lifting his hat as he passed, and hurrying ahead of them up the hill, beyond which he soon vanished. "The wretch!" cried Else. "I thank you, Reinhold, that you understood, that you have freed me forever from him, from all of them! You cannot imagine how thankful I am and why I am so thankful to you! I will not now burden you, dear heart, with the hateful things which I have experienced; I shall tell you another time. Come what may, I am yours and you are mine! This joy is so great--everything else is small and insignificant compared with it!"