She could have lingered thus with him for a lifetime; but in a few minutes he sprang up, anxious to put an end to this tender dalliance which was beginning to be too much even for him, and exclaimed: 

“This cursed, this infernal trial!  But such is the fate of man!  Duty calls, and he must return from all the bliss of Paradise to the world again.  Give me your arm, my only love, my all!”

And Katharina obeyed.  Dazzled and bewildered by the extraordinary happiness that had come to meet her, she allowed him to lead her on, listening with suspended breath as he added:  “Out of this beatitude back to the sternest of duties!—­And how odious, how immeasurably loathesome is the case in question!  How gladly would I have been a friend to Paula, a faithful protector instead of a foe!”

As he spoke he felt the girl’s left hand clench tighter on his arm, and this spurred him on in his guilty purpose.  Katharina herself had suggested to his mind the course he must pursue to attain his end.  He went on to influence her jealousy by praising Paula’s charm and loftiness, excusing himself in his own eyes by persuading himself that a lover was justified in inducing his betrothed to save his happiness and his honor.

Still, as he uttered each flattering word, he felt that he was lowering himself and doing a fresh injustice to Paula.  He found it only too easy to sing her praises; but as he did so with growing enthusiasm Katharina hit him on the arm exclaiming, half in jest and half seriously vexed: 

“Oh, she is a goddess!  And pray do you love her or me?  You had better not make me jealous!  Do you hear?”

“You little simpleton!” he said gaily; and then he added soothingly:  “She is like the cold moon, but you are the bright warming sun.  Yes, Paula!—­we will leave Paula to some Olympian god, some archangel.  I rejoice in my gladsome little maiden who will enjoy life with me, and all its pleasures!”

“That we will!” she exclaimed triumphantly; the horizon of her future was radiant with sunshine.

“Good Heavens!” he exclaimed as if in surprise.  “The lights are already shining in that miserable hall of justice!  Ah, love, love!  Under that enchantment we had forgotten the object for which we came out.—­Tell me, my darling, do you remember exactly what the necklace was like that you and Mary were playing with this afternoon?”

“It was very finely wrought, but in the middle hung a rubbishy broken medallion of gold.”

“You are a pretty judge of works of art!  Then you overlooked the fine engraved gem which was set in that modest gold frame?”

“Certainly not.”

“I assure you, little wise-head!”

“No, my dearest.”  As she spoke she looked up saucily, as though she had achieved some great triumph.  “I know very well what gems are.  My father left a very fine collection, and my mother says that by his will they are all to belong to my future husband.”