of other things.'

'Does it pain you? I am sorry. I asked you because--well, I wanted to
know if it was exactly my duty--because--you see, I do not think I ever
could, quite, as I ought to. You are not angry?'

'No, darling. I quite understand. It will be enough if you behave to
her as you do now. Besides, I was going to propose something, if your
mother will agree to it. When we are married, we might live at
Sigmundskron.'

'Oh! Greif, are you in earnest?'

'Yes. Why not?'

'You do not know what a place it is!' exclaimed Hilda with an uneasy
laugh. She had visions of her husband discovering the utter desolation
of the old castle, but at the same time she felt a sudden wild desire
to see it all restored and furnished and kept up as it should be.

'Yes, I know. But there are many reasons why I should like it. Of
course it has gone to ruin, more or less, and there would be something
to be done.'

'Something!' cried Hilda. 'Everything! The great rooms are perfectly
desolate, no furniture, hardly any glass in the windows. We are so
poor, Greif!'

'But I can put panes into the frames and get some furniture. We need
not have so much at first.'