ne. You were always a good, faithful fellow, and I am
sincerely attached to you. But have I even the slightest knowledge of
what you obtained abroad or what awaits you here?"

"Wawerl!" he interrupted reproachfully. "Would I as an honest man seek
your hand if I had not made money enough to support a wife whose
expectations were not too extravagant? You can not reasonably doubt that,
and now, when the most sacred of bonds is in question, it ought--"

"It ought, you think, to satisfy me?" she interrupted with confident
superiority. "But one of two things must follow this sacred
bond-happiness or misery in the earthly life which is entered from the
church steps. I am tired of the miserable starving and struggling, my
dear Wolf. Marriage must at least rid me of these gloomy spectres. My
father will not let you leave soon the good wine he allows himself and
you to enjoy--you know that. Tell him how you are situated at the court,
and what prospects, you have here in Ratisbon or elsewhere; for instance,
I would gladly go to the magnificent Netherlands with my husband. Inform
yourself better, too, of the amount of your inheritance. The old man will
take me into his confidence early to-morrow morning. But I will confess
this to you now: The most welcome husband to me would be a zealous and
skilful disciple of music, and I know that wish will be fulfilled with
you. If, perhaps, you are already what I call a successful man, we will
see. But--I have learned that--no happiness will thrive on bread and
water, and even a modest competence, as it is called, won't do for me."

"But Wawerl," he interrupted dejectedly, "what could be better than true,
loyal love? Just hear what I was going to tell you, and have not yet
reached."

But Barbara would not listen, cutting his explanation short with the
words:

"All that is written as distinctly on the tender swain's face as if I had
it before me in black letter, but unfortunately it has as little power to
move me to reckless haste as the angry visage into which your
affectionate one is now transformed. The Scripture teaches us to prove
before we retain. Yet if, on this account, you take me for a woman whose
heart and hand can be bought for gold, you are mistaken. Worthy Peter
Schlumperger is constantly courting me. And I? I have asked him to wait,
although he is perhaps the richest man in the city. I might have Bernard
Crafft, too, at any time, but he, perhaps, is as much too young as Herr