o wait a
moment, and then went in and hastily informed the assembly that Dame
Susannah had entrusted her daughter to him only on condition that he
should escort her back again as soon as she had given her testimony. Then
Paula was brought in and he desired her to be seated.

It was with a sinking and anxious heart that Katharina had entered the
anteroom. She had screened herself from a scolding before now by trivial
subterfuges, but never had told a serious lie; and every instinct
rebelled against the demand that she should now state a direct falsehood.
But could Orion, the noblest of mankind, the idol of the whole town, so
pressingly entreat her to do anything that was wrong? Did not love--as he
had said--make it her duty to do everything that might screen him from
loss or injury? It did not seem to her to be quite as it should be, but
perhaps she did not altogether understand the matter; she was so young
and inexperienced. She hated the idea, too, that, if she opposed her
lover, he would have to come to terms with Paula. She had no lack of
self-possession, and she told herself that she might hold her own with
any girl in Memphis; still, she felt the superiority of the handsome,
tall, proud Syrian, nor could she forget how, the day before yesterday,
when Paula had been walking up and down the garden with Orion the chief
officer of Memphis had exclaimed: "What a wonderfully handsome couple!"
She herself had often thought that no more beautiful, elegant and lovable
creature than Thomas' daughter walked the earth; she had longed and
watched for a glance or a kind word from her. But since hearing those
words a bitter feeling had possessed her soul against Paula, and there
had been much to foster it. Paula always treated her like a child instead
of a grown-up girl, as she was. Why, that very morning, had she sought
out her betrothed--for she might call him so now--and tried to keep her
away from him? And how was it that Orion, even while declaring his love
for her, had spoken more than warmly--enthusiastically of Paula? She must
be on her guard, and though others should speak of the great good fortune
that had fallen to her lot, Paula, at any rate, would not rejoice in it,
for Katharina felt and knew that she was not indifferent to Orion. She
had not another enemy in the world, but Paula was one; her love had
everything to fear from her--and suddenly she asked herself whether the
gold medallion she had seen might not indeed