Be
reasonable, Regine, and give in. Little Marietta is a dear, good girl,
if she has sung in a theatre. Every one speaks highly of her. You need
never be ashamed of your daughter-in-law."
Regine rose suddenly and pushed her chair back with a violent movement.
"I beg you, Moritz, once for all, to spare me such requests. I will
stand by my word. Willibald knows the conditions under which I shall
return to Burgsdorf. If he does not fulfill them, we are better apart."
"It will be a long time before he will do that," said her
brother-in-law, dryly. "When a man is asked to abandon the woman he
loves for a mother's whim, he's not apt to do it if he's made of the
right stuff."
"You express yourself very freely," said Frau Regine, angrily. "But what
does a man know of a mother's love or of the gratitude of children? You
are all an ungrateful, heedless, selfish--"
"Hold! I have something to say for my own sex," von Schoenau began
excitedly. Suddenly, however, he leaned forward and said in a changed
tone:
"We haven't seen each other for seven months, Regine, so don't let's
quarrel the very first day we meet. We can do that any time, you know.
We won't discuss that obstinate heir of Burgsdorf, but speak of
ourselves. How do you like life in the city? To me you hardly seem
contented.
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