“I have no intention of quarreling with you, my child,” said Frau Regine in an arrogant tone.  “But I am, as you say, Toni’s future mother-in-law, and as such deem it my duty to protect her from all improper intercourse.  I beg you will not misunderstand me.  I am not proud, and the grandchild of Dr. Volkmar is, in my eyes, a fit companion for my niece; but a lady of the theatre will, rightly enough, seek her companions among the theatrical circle, but here at Fuerstenstein—­you understand me, I hope?”

“Oh, yes, I understand you, my dear madame,” cried Marietta, her whole face aflame now.  “You need say nothing further; I have but one word to ask.  Do Herr von Schoenau and Antonie agree with you in what you have just said?”

“As regards the root of the matter, certainly.  But I would not have you think for a moment that they would refuse to—­” a very expressive shrug of the shoulders concluded this sentence.  The upright and truth-loving woman did not for a moment imagine she was guilty of an untruth; her prejudices were deeply rooted, and she could not imagine the head forester not agreeing with her at bottom, notwithstanding his contradictory nature prevented him admitting it frankly; as for Antonie, she was a good-natured little thing, but she lacked the stamina required to end such an intimacy, and her aunt, in consequence, was resolved to end it for her.  But at this critical moment something unexpected happened.  Willibald stepped forward and said, half reproachfully: 

“But, mother—­”

“Is it you, Will?  What are you doing here?” asked his mother, to whom this interruption was anything but pleasant.

Willibald understood full well that his mother had been ungracious, and he usually retreated as quickly as possible when he found her in a bad humor.  To-day he took his stand with unwonted bravery.  He came a step nearer and repeated:  “But, mother, you must have misunderstood them.  Toni never thought of such a thing, Fraeulein Volkmar.”

“What do you know about it?  Do you mean to accuse me of falsehood?” his enraged mother turned on him.  “What business is it of yours what I discuss with Fraeulein Volkmar?  Your bride’s not here, you can see that for yourself, so you may go, also, and at once!”

The young heir had flushed deeply at this tone, to which he was well accustomed; but before this girl it seemed to shame him, and he looked as though he would resist his mother’s authority for once.  His face assumed a defiant expression, but a threatening, “Well, don’t you hear me?” conquered him as usual.  He turned hesitatingly, and left the room, but the door behind him remained half open.

Marietta glanced after him with a contemptuous curl of the lip and then turned back to her adversary.  “You need give yourself no further uneasiness, my dear madame.  I have come to Fuerstenstein for the last time.  As the head forester had received me with his old-time cordiality, and as Antonie was as affectionate toward me as ever, I could not know that they felt that there was a stain upon me on account of the profession which I follow.  Had I suspected such a thing I surely would not have inflicted myself upon them.  It will not happen in the future, never again.”