"That is very difficult," replied Sophie; "yet it is also very easy. For instance; have you always simply wished to transfer Miss Marguerite from her dependent position to a better one, to shelter her, to protect her against all trouble and danger; or have you sometimes desired----" Here the philosopher hesitated and blushed. "Well?" asked Bemperlein, eagerly. "To give her a kiss!" said Sophie, determined to clear the matter up, even at the risk of being thought indiscreet, "If that is all," said Bemperlein, triumphantly, "I can answer that question with 'Yes.'" "Bravo, Bemperly! And _have_ you given her a kiss?" "No!" "Have you confessed your love to her?" "No!" "How do you know, then, that she loves you too?" "I don't know that." The gradually decreasing certainty of these negations was so comical that Sophie could hardly keep from laughing. "But, Bemperly," she cried, "how will you find that out?" "I will ask her!" replied Bemperlein, resolutely. "Very well! And if she says No?" "She cannot say so; she will not say so;" cried Bemperlein, pale with emotion. "I have never thought of it, but that would be terrible. I--I thought it would be so beautiful if she should become my wife and I could work for her, and I could love her and she should love me back again! For I must love somebody with my whole heart, and I must feel that somebody loves me with her whole heart, or I should be the most wretched man in the world. Oh, Miss Sophie! surely, surely. Marguerite will not say No!" His voice trembled and his eyes filled with tears. The kind-hearted girl was hardly less deeply moved. The passionate feeling of Bemperlein had touched a sympathetic chord in her heart. She felt suddenly under an obligation to protect the youthful love of her thirty-year-old pupil with all her power. "What do you say, Bemperly?" she said, very decidedly. "We can soon find out. Bring Marguerite here!" Bemperlein breathed freely again. "May I, really?" "Of course. I cannot very well call on her, because that would attract attention; but she can come here without its being noticed. Just tell her I should like to make her acquaintance. If she loves you, she will come soon enough; and if we once have her here, the rest will follow of course. Yes, yes," continued the young lady, clapping her hands with delight, "that is the way! that is the way! And when we are good friends, then we have another plan--oh, Bemperly, another plan--if you knew what--but no, no!--you must not know yet--nor must Franz know. Hush, there he is. Not a word, Bemperly, of _our_ secret!" CHAPTER IV.