Gustave uttered his romantic rhapsody—­the rhapsody of most lovers—­with that genuine emotion which bespoke his sincerity, and touched the heart of De Vlierbeck so deeply that he grasped his hand and implored him to be calm.

“Don’t tremble so, my young friend,” said the old gentleman.  “I know very well that you love Lenora, and that she is not insensible to your affection for her.  But what have you to propose to me?”

Gustave replied, dejectedly,—­“If I still doubt your approval, after all the marks of esteem you have given me, it is because I fear you do not consider me worthy the happiness I have sought.  I have no ancestral tree whose roots are buried in the past; the good deeds of my forefathers do not shine in history; the blood that runs in my veins comes from a common stock.”

“Do you think,” said De Vlierbeck, interrupting him, “that I was ignorant of all this from the first day of our acquaintance?  No Gustave; no matter what your lineage may be, your own heart is generous and noble; and, had it not been so, I would never have esteemed and treated you as my son.”

“And so,” exclaimed Gustave, catching at the last words with a burst of joyous impatience, “you don’t refuse me Lenora’s hand?—­you will interpose no objection, provided my uncle gives his consent?”

“No,” replied De Vlierbeck; “I shall not refuse it to you.  On the contrary, it will give me unbounded happiness to intrust the fate of my only child to your keeping.  And yet there is an obstacle of which you have no idea.”

“An obstacle!” exclaimed Gustave, growing pale;—­“an obstacle between Lenora and me?”

“Be silent a moment,” said De Vlierbeck, “and listen to the explanation I shall give you.  You think, Gustave, I suppose, that Grinselhof and all its dependencies belong to us?  It is not so:  we are penniless.  We are poorer far than the peasant who rents our farming-land and lives yonder at the gate!”

Gustave looked doubtingly at De Vlierbeck, with so incredulous a smile that the poor gentleman blushed, and trembled like an aspen.

“I see you do not believe me,” continued he; “I see it in your smile and look.  Like the rest of them, you think me a miser, hiding my wealth and starving my child and myself to amass riches,—­a wretch who sacrifices every thing for money,—­a vagabond whom all ought to fear and despise!”

“Oh, pardon me, pardon me, sir!” interrupted Gustave, moved by the excitement of the old man “I think nothing of the kind!  My veneration for you is unbounded!”

“Nay, don’t be frightened at my words, young man,” continued De Vlierbeck, in a calmer tone.  “I make no accusations against you, Gustave.  I only saw in your incredulous smile that I had succeeded in masking my poverty even from you, and in making you suppose that my economy was avarice.  But it is needless for me to give you any further explanation just now.  Let it suffice you to know that what I say is strictly, honestly true.  I possess nothing,—­nothing!”