ur Marie is the betrothed of Herr Ebenstreit, and the wedding will
take place so soon--"

"So soon as the title of nobility is published. That is it, is the
clause to be filled; and therefore I tell you, beloved, wait and hope!
This woman is without pity and without mercy; but God is in heaven, and
Frederick the Great on the earth. Wait and hope. Be firm in hope,
and constant in love. Do not lose courage, and let them force you to
compliance by threats and anger. I have only you to confide in and to
love in the world, and you are my hope, my goal, and the happiness of my
life. If you forsake me, I lose my good angel, and am a lost, miserable
man, whom it would be better to hurl into the deepest abyss than let him
suffer the torments of hated existence. The knowledge of your love gives
me strength and courage; it will inspire me to fight like a hero, to
win the dear, beloved wife, to whom I would yield my life in order to
receive it anew from her purified and sanctified. The knowledge that I
had lost you, would ruin me."

Laying both hands upon his shoulder, Marie looked at him with eyes
beaming with affection, renewing her vow that she would never love or
marry another. "We will be courageous in hope, and brave in constancy.
Listen to me, my beloved; listen, my mother--I betrothed myself to this
dear man! You can prevent my becoming his wife now, but in four years I
am of age, and then I shall be my own mistress. Then, my dear Philip, I
will be your wife. Let us wait and hope!"

"Yes, Marie, we will wait and hope.--Farewell! Do not forget that there
is a great God in heaven, and a great king upon earth.--Farewell!"

He pressed the hand clasped in his own passionately to his tips,
and felt from the pressure of her delicate fingers a renewed vow of
constancy. Buoyed with this hope in the sad hour of parting, they were
happy and joyful. Marie accompanied him to the door--still hand in hand.

"Presume not to go a step farther," commanded her mother, and Marie,
obedient to her wishes, remained near the door, bowed to Moritz, and
never ceased to regard him, with love beaming in her eyes, until the
door closed. Outside stood old Trude, to tell him that she would be
at the baker's at seven o'clock every morning, and wait for his
commissions, "and may be I shall have something to bring you," she said.
"So do come!"

"I will, my good Trude; you are the only person who is friendly to us.
Watch over my angel, console her with