o his face while she spoke, as if to say, "You gave me
a deal of trouble, but at last I have captured you."

"Did you so greatly desire the promise, Yolanda?" asked Max, solely for
the pleasure of hearing her answer.

"Yes," she answered softly, hanging her head, "more than any _man_, can
know. It must be an intense longing that will drive a modest girl to
boldness, such as I have shown ever since the day I first met you at
dear old Basel. It almost broke my heart when father--fatherland--when
Burgundy made war on Switzerland." The word "land" was a lucky thought,
and came to the girl just in the nick of time.

Max was too much interested in the girl to pay close attention to any
slips she might make about the war with Switzerland. It is true he was
now a soldier, and war was all right in its place; but there are things
in life compared with which the wars of nations are trivial affairs. All
subjects save one were unwelcome to him.

"Now I am going to ask a promise from you, Fraeulein," said Max,
loosening his hand from her grasp and placing his arm about her waist.
She offered no objections to the new situation, but blushed and looked
down demurely to her folded hands.

"It will, I fear, be very easy for you, Max, to induce me to promise
anything you wish. It will be all too easy, for I am not strong, as you
are." She glanced into his face, but her eyes fell quickly to her hands.

"I shall soon leave you again, Fraeulein, and what I wish is of such
moment that I--I almost fear to ask."

"Yes, Max," she murmured, gently reaching across his knee, and placing
her hand in his by way of encouragement.

"It is this, Fraeulein. I am going back to Styria, and I want to carry
with me your promise to be my wife," said Max, softly.

The girl's head fell over against his shoulder, and she clasped his free
hand between both of hers.

"I will ask my father's consent," said Max. "I will tell him of you and
of my great love, which is so great, Fraeulein, that all the world is
nothing beside it and beside you, and he will grant my request."

"But if he doesn't, Max?" asked the face hidden upon his breast.

"If he does not, Fraeulein, I will forego my country and my estates. I
will come back to you and will work in the fields, if need be, to make
you as happy as you will make me."

"There will be no need for that, Max," she answered, tears of happiness
slowly trickling down her cheeks, "for I am rich."

"That I am sorry