“Perhaps because you yield implicit obedience to all her commands? But tell me why did not you follow her example, and refuse Major Stultz, if you did not like him?” “He did not ask me, he spoke to mamma, and wrote to papa; and when all was arranged, I had not courage to refuse; and he is forty-six years old, and I shall not be sixteen until next year!” “That is a considerable disparity, certainly.” “I should not mind the thirty years so much if his face were not so red and his figure so stout. I hate red-faced, stout men!” “If he could change his appearance to please you, I have no doubt he would do so,” observed Hamilton, smiling. “Hildegarde also dislikes red-faced men,” she added, pettishly. “Whatever Hildegarde says must be right, of course,” said Hamilton, ironically; “but I have not discovered that she dislikes Count Zedwitz, and he rather comes under the denomination red-faced.” “Hildegarde says Count Zedwitz is very agreeable, and not in the least presuming.” “And who does she say is presuming, if I may ask?” “She says you are—or would be, if you were allowed.” “I think she is wrong. And were she to meet Zedwitz here alone——” “Hildegarde would never do such a thing—never! And I ought not to have come, either,” she cried, starting from her seat and looking anxiously round. Then, laying her hand heavily on his arm, and straining her eyes as if to see something more distinctly, she asked, in a scarcely audible voice, “What is that?” “What?—I see nothing.” “There—there—in the corner! The moon’s shining on it now—that figure.” “Oh, that is a stone figure—a monument, or something of that sort. Let us go and look at it.” “Not for the universe—I saw it move.” “You fancied it moved; one can imagine all sorts of things by moonlight. Will you remain here and let me examine it?” “Oh, no—you must not leave me! I—I think it may be something unearthly. Oh, why did I come here?—why did I come here?” “Don’t be unnecessarily alarmed; I am convinced it is nothing but——” “There, there—it moved again!” She grasped his arm and hid her face on his shoulder. “Come,” said Hamilton, encouragingly; “let me take you to your room—to your sister.”