"Thank you, but I don't care to drive to-day," she said.
"Why not?"
"Riding out in a carriage does not benefit me."
"When did you discover this?"
"Some time ago."
Ludwig looked at her in astonishment. What was the meaning of this?
Could she know that some one else had occupied her place in the carriage
yesterday?
"And will you not go with me to-morrow?"
"If you will allow me, I shall stay at home."
"Is anything the matter with you, Marie?"
"Nothing. I don't like the jolting of the carriage."
"Then I shall sell the horses."
"It might be well to do so--if you don't want them for your own use. I
shall take my exercise in the garden."
"And in the winter?"
"Then I will promenade in the court, and make snow images, as the
farmers' children do."
And the end of the matter was that Ludwig sold the horses, and Marie's
outdoor exercises were restricted to the garden. Moreover, she studied
and wrote all day long.
When she went into the garden, Josef, the gardener's boy, was sent
elsewhere so long as she chose to remain among the flowers.
One afternoon Josef had been sent, as usual, to perform some task in the
park while Marie promenaded in the garden.
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