Page 579 of 788

"If he had but once openly refused me-for he knew our feelings-if

he had not received my visits, then who knows? Perhaps I should

have gone away, have become enraged, have cursed him, and finally

have left him in peace. But he, the proud and cunning lord,

formed a new plan; he pretended that it had never even entered

his head that I could strive for such a union. But he needed me,

I had influence among the gentry and every one in the district

liked me. So he feigned not to notice my love; he welcomed me as

before and even insisted that I should come more often; but

whenever we were alone together, seeing my eyes darkened with

tears and my heart over-full and ready to burst forth, the sly

old man would suddenly throw in some indifferent word about

lawsuits, district diets, or hunting--

* * * * * * * *