e myself, and implore pity and indulgence,
and defend myself from the reproach of having been a cold, unloving
daughter. Oh! God knows how I have longed for your love; that I would
willingly prove that I would joyfully do every thing to embellish your
life and make you happy. It gave me such pleasure to earn something
for you with my dear flowers and lessons, and afford you a little
gratification!"

"Ah! now, she will reproach us with having toiled for us and sacrificed
herself. Husband, thank yourself for the victim who worked for you, who
gave her youth for us that she might strew our life with roses."

"I have had enough of this talking and whining," cried the general,
furiously beating the table with his fist. "My daughter shall not be a
heroine of romance, but an obedient child, who submits to the will of
her parents. You shall marry the man that we have chosen for you; the
king has given his consent, and it shall take place. I command you! That
is sufficient! I will hear no more about it; the thing is done with.
Herr Ebenstreit is coming this afternoon to make you a proposal of
marriage with our consent, and you must, accept him. I command you to do
it!"

"I cannot obey you! Oh, do not force me to rebel against God's holy
laws! Have pity upon me! I have obeyed you until now, and yielded to
your wishes, although I thought it would break my heart sometimes. You
have forbidden Moritz the house, and turned him out of doors like a
servant, with scorn and contempt, and he has silently borne it on my
account. You have forbidden me to write or receive letters from him,
or ever to meet him. My mother would curse me if I disobeyed her, and
I submitted. I have given up every thing, sacrificed every wish, and
renounced my love. But you cannot expect more from me, or dare ask it.
I can forego happiness, but you cannot ask me to consent to be buried
alive!"

"And what if we should wish it?" asked her mother. "If we should demand
our daughter to give up a romantic, foolish love, to become the wife of
a young man who loves her, and who loves us, and who is rich enough to
assure us a comfortable old age, free from care?"

"Marie," cried the general, in a begging and almost imploring tone,
"Marie, prove to us now that you are really a good and grateful
child--we have had so much care and want in our life, so many sorrowful
days! It lies in your hands to make our declining days joyous and
bright, and free us from want. We have