She was nearly
broken hearted when she thought he would die, and Will felt he could
not leave her until he knew what would be the result of the illness. So
I said to keep silence until the danger was over, and then speak. We
have both gone daily to the cottage to cheer poor Marietta. They are so
grateful to me and call me the guardian angel of their love."
The young girl seemed quite affected by this thought, and took her
handkerchief to wipe the tears which were welling up in her eyes.
Frau von Eschenhagen stood stark and stiff as a statue.
Schoenau had folded his arms, and said with a deep sigh:
"Well, God bless you for your magnanimity, my dear child. So everything
is as if it had never been. But you have been very generous in your
statements, one must acknowledge that. You have taken it very quietly,
and seen your betrothed make love to another girl before your very
eyes."
Antonie nodded her head. She was greatly pleased to play the _role_ of
guardian angel, and she found no difficulty in so doing for her
affection for Willibald had been very mild from the beginning.
"There was no talk of love making, papa. Dr. Volkmar was far too ill,"
she explained. "We had all we could do to comfort poor Marietta, who was
dreadfully alarmed. You can see for yourself now that I have not been
deceived and that Will has been outspoken and honorable throughout.
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