her and a wife to
take care of."

"Not for me, Charles Henry, for I will not marry yet. Have we saved
enough to commence housekeeping? Is this a time to marry and build a
nest, when war, misery, and ruin are raging throughout the country? No,
no! Charles Henry, we cannot marry now."

"Because you do not wish it, Anna. But it shall be, for I have your
promise, and you must keep it. Ah, Anna Sophia, you do not know what a
longing I have to call you my wife!"

"But I have no such longing," said she, drily; "no desire whatever to
marry; and I will tell you, that though you wish to marry to-day, it is
not out of love for me, but to save yourself."

His eyes sunk before the large, searching ones fixed upon him.

"To save myself, and from what, Anna Sophia?"

"From being a soldier, Charles Henry! For last evening, I read upon your
countenance that you were devoid of courage."

"You read that?"

"Yes, Charles Henry, fear was stamped upon your brow."

"Well, then," said he, after a pause, "you have read aright. I have no
courage, I fear for myself. I am not accustomed to stand still, while
some one is pointing his gun at me, and to cry, 'Long live the king!'
when the cannon-balls are flying around me; to attack men who have
done me no harm, and to whom I wish to do none. When I think upon the
possibility of my being compelled to do this. I tremble, and my heart
ceases to beat. Do not require it of me, Anna, for if I have to go, I
will fly at the first fight, and come back here. They may then shoot me
as a deserter, if they choose; I prefer to die rather than to kill any
one else."

Anna Sophia sprang from her seat with a cry of horror.

"I thought so," said she, in a low voice; and, crossing her arms upon
her breast, she walked to and fro, thoughtfully.

Charles Henry looked at her in amazement, but had not the courage to
speak to her; for she was so completely changed, that he was almost
afraid of her. There was something so cold and proud about her to-day,
something aristocratic in her beauty. He thought to himself, "It is thus
that a queen would look when dressed as a peasant." Anna Sophia stood
still before him at last, and gave him a tender, almost pitiful glance.

"Charles Henry," said she, "you shall not join the army; I will not
suffer it."

He sprang from his seat with a cry of joy.

"You will then marry me, Anna Sophia?" said he, exultingly. "You will
become my wife, so as to keep me here? You love m