Now Toni declares
she will be loved devotedly, too; this is the beginning of fine,
romantic ideas in her head, and Will seems to have them all down fine by
this time. I verily believe he has done his own proposing this time."
Frau von Eschenhagen did not heed his ironical remarks; she sat gazing
vacantly into space, but the look on her face was not pleasant to see.
"I'm glad you can see the comical side," she said after a pause. "I
confess I look another way."
"That won't help you much," Herr von Schoenau answered. "When a model son
begins to rebel, that's the end of it. It's hopeless trying to change
him, particularly when he's in love. But I am very curious to see Will
genuinely in love, and to hear what this paragon has to say for
himself."
His curiosity was to be gratified at once, for just at that moment
Willibald put in an appearance.
It could be seen at a glance that he had heard of his mother's arrival
and was prepared to face her. The young heir did not hang back
diffidently this time, as he had done when he hid the roses in his
pocket two months before. There was something in his bearing which told
he was prepared for combat.
"There is your mother, Will," began the head forester. "You must be
greatly surprised to see her."
"No, uncle, I am not," the young man answered, but he made no attempt to
approach his mother, who stood like a threatening cloud, and whose voice
was an angry growl as she asked:
"Perhaps you know, then, why I came?"
"I imagine why, mother, even though I do not know where you obtained
your information.
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