charming incidents in the love affairs of great men. For, when her
guardian had left the house, Constance asked her mother for the paper,
and as soon as she had it in her hands, tore it up, exclaiming: "Dear
Mozart, I do not need a written promise from you. I trust your words."

Frau Weber saw in Mozart, the suitor, a possible contributor to the
household expenses, and as soon as she learned that he and Constance
intended to set up for themselves, she became bitterly opposed to the
match. Finally a titled lady, Baroness von Waldstadter, took the young
people under her protection, and Constance went to live with her to
escape her mother's nagging. Frau Weber then planned to force her
daughter to return to her by legal process. Immediate marriage was the
only method of escape from the scandal this would entail; and so,
August 4, 1782, Mozart and his Constance were married in the Church of
St. Stephen, Vienna. When at last they had all obstacles behind them
and stood at the altar as one, they were so overcome by their feelings
that they began to cry; and the few bystanders, including the priest,
were so deeply affected by their happiness that they too were moved to
tears.

[Illustration: Constance, wife of Mozart. From an engraving by Nissen.]

Although poor, Mozart, through his music, had become acquainted with
titled personages and was known at court. He and Constance, shortly
after their wedding, were walking in the Prater with their pet dog. To
make the dog bark, Mozart playfully pretended to strike Constance with
his cane. At that moment the Emperor, chancing to come out of a summer
house and seeing Mozart's action, which he misinterpreted, began
chiding him for abusing his wife so shortly after they had been
married. When his mistake was explained to him, he was highly amused.