was under the tree. Then strange tones of complaint or lamenting
seemed to come through the air, stirring the tree like the touch of
some breeze; and it began to utter sighs and moans. And I was seized by
an indescribable pain and sorrow; a deep compassion arose in my heart,
I could not tell why. Then, suddenly, a burning beam of light darted
into my breast, and seemed to break my heart in two. I tried to cry
out, but the cry could not make its way from my heart, oppressed with a
nameless anguish--it became a faint sigh. But the beam which had
pierced my heart was the gleam of a pair of eyes which were gazing on
me from under the shade of the branches. Just then the eyes were quite
close to me; and a snow-white hand became visible, describing circles
all round me. And those circles kept getting narrower and narrower,
winding round me like threads of fire, so that, at last, the web of
them was so dense and so close that I could not move. At the same time
I felt that the frightful gaze of those terrible eyes was assuming the
mastery over my inmost being, and utterly possessing my whole existence
and personality. The one idea to which it now clung, as if to a feeble
thread, was, to me, a martyrdom of death-anguish. But the tree bent
down its blossoms towards me, and out of them spoke the beautiful
voice of a youth, which said, 'Angelica! I will save you--I will save
you--but----'"

Angelica was interrupted. Captain von P---- was announced. He came to
see the Colonel on some matter of duty. As soon as Angelica heard his
name she cried out with the bitterest sorrow, in such a voice as bursts
only from a breast wounded with the deepest love-anguish--while tears
fell down her cheeks--"Moritz! oh, Moritz!"

Captain von P---- heard those words as he came in; he saw Angelica,
bathed in tears, stretch out her hands to him. Like a man beside
himself he dashed his forage cap to the ground, fell at Angelica's
feet, caught her in his arms, as she sank down overwhelmed with rapture
and sorrow, and pressed her fervently to his heart.

The Colonel contemplated this little scene in speechless amazement.
Madame von G---- said: "I thought this was how it was; but I was not
sure!"

"Captain von P----," said the Colonel angrily, "what is there between
you and my daughter?"

Moritz, quickly recovering himself, placed Angelica--more dead than
alive--gently down on the couch, picked up his cap, advanced to the
Colonel with a face red as fi