could have gotten leave and gone to
them. God be praised! The man seems to live again since he has his son
with him. I knew better than any one how the boy's flight struck him,
for he fairly worshipped his son, notwithstanding his severity. That
famous ride which saved his father and his troops, absolved him from all
his boyhood's errors, for which, after all, his mother alone was
accountable."

"If we only had some wedding festivities in the family," said Marietta.
"Will and I were married without any, because the war had commenced, and
now when the war is happily ended, Hartmut and Ada are married just as
quietly as we."

"My child, when a man has gone through all that Hartmut has endured, he
has little desire for gaieties," said Frau von Eschenhagen, earnestly.
"Besides, he has by no means recovered his strength yet. You saw how
pale he was when they were married. Adelheid's first marriage was very
different from her second one. Her poor father gave her away, although
he was so ill, and she in her train and lace and diamonds looked like a
queen; but her face was pale and cold. Now, she seemed like a different
creature as she turned with Hartmut from the altar in her simple white
silk gown and gauzy veil. I have never seen so peaceful, so happy a
face! Poor Herbert! He never possessed his wife's love."

"Who could love so old a man? Always with his diplomatic coat and manner
on, too. I shouldn't have been able to do it, I'm sure," cried Marietta,
thoughtlessly.

Her mother-in-law, who held her brother's memory sacred, said tartly:

"Such an opportunity would never have come in your way. A man like
Herbert von Wallmoden would scarcely have chosen you, you little
insolent thing--"

The little insolent thing threw her arms around Frau Regine's neck, and
said, flatteringly:

"Now, don't be angry, mamma! I wouldn't exchange my Will for all the
great ambassadors of the world, and neither would you."

"You're a little minx," said Regine, striving to look as severe as ever.
"You know very well that one can't be angry with you long. Oh, there'll
be a petticoat government at Burgsdorf from this time on, such as the
place has never witnessed before. Will's a little ashamed before me yet,
but as soon as I'm gone he'll surrender at discretion."

"Why do you cling to that idea, mother?" said Willibald, reprovingly.
"Why do you want to go when all is love and peace between us?"

"Just for that reason I go, that peace may