Willibald appeared surprised.

“Not an enviable one?  Why, I thought you loved your profession, heart and soul, and that nothing could induce you to leave it.”

“Certainly, I love it; but I am realizing each day, more and more, with how much that is hard and bitter I have to contend.  My teacher, Professor Marani, says ’one must mount with the wings of an eagle, then he leaves all the dross far beneath him.’  I think he is right, but I am not an eagle, I am only what my dear grandfather has often called me, ’a singing bird,’ with nothing but my voice, and no strength to mount to dizzy heights.  The critics have said before now that my acting lacked fire and strength, and I feel myself that I have little dramatic talent.  I can only sing, and I’d much rather do that at home in our own green woods, than here in a golden cage.”

The girl’s voice had a worn, discouraged ring, very unusual in one so full of vivacity.  The recent occurrence had brought her unprotected position before her most forcibly, and unconsciously she opened her heart to the man who had shielded her so bravely.  He listened in astonishment to her sad words, but instead of showing any pity, his face and eyes fairly beamed with happiness and joy at her sad admission.  He asked abruptly, almost roughly: 

“You long to get away from here?  You will leave the stage?”

Despite her troubles, Marietta laughed out at this question.

“No, indeed, I have no such thought.  What would I turn to then?  My dear grandfather has scraped and saved for years in order that I might receive a musical education, and it would be but a poor return for me to go back to him now, a burden for his few remaining years.  He shall never know that his ‘singing bird’ longs for her woodland nest, or that she has hardships and insults to encounter here.  I have more courage than that.  I mean to fight it out, no matter how heavy the odds.  So do not let them hear anything about my murmurings at Fuerstenstein.  How soon are you going there?”

A shadow fell across the young heir’s happy face, and his eyes sank to the floor.

“I am going at two this afternoon,” he answered in a strange, depressed tone.

“O, then grant me one favor.  Tell Toni everything—­everything—­you hear?  She has cause to blame us both.  I shall write to her to-day, at once, and tell her about this unfortunate affair, and you will explain just how it happened, too, will you not?”

Willibald raised his eyes slowly from the ground and looked at the speaker.

“You are right, Fraeulein, Toni must hear all, the whole truth.  I had decided on that before I came here—­but it will be a trying hour for me.”

“Oh, no indeed, it will not,” Marietta said hastily.  “Toni is good and full of confidence; she will know that what we tell her is the exact truth, and that we were both quite guiltless in the matter.”

“But I am not guiltless, at least toward Toni,” said Willibald very earnestly.  “Do not look so frightened, you would hear all later, so it is, perhaps, as well to hear it from my lips.  I am going to Fuerstenstein to ask Toni”—­he hesitated and sighed deeply—­“to give me back my freedom.”