That he deserves your love I can swear! No one
can become thoroughly acquainted with Count Vavel and not love him. I
went to the castle to ask him to join the noble militia, and he let me
see the lady about whom so much has been said. She had excellent
reasons, baroness, for veiling her lovely face, for whoever had seen her
mother's pictures would have recognized her at once. When Count Vavel
goes into battle to help defend our fatherland, he must leave the royal
maid in a mother's hands. Will you fill that office? Will you take the
desolate maid to your heart? And now, Katinka hugom, give me your answer
to the Count's words."
With sudden impulsiveness the baroness extended both hands to Herr
Bernat, and said earnestly:
"With all my heart I consent to be Count Vavel's betrothed wife!"
"And I may fly to him with this answer?"
"Yes--on condition that you take me with you."
"What, baroness? You wish to go to the castle--now?"
"Yes, now--this very moment--in these clothes! I have no one to ask what
I should or should not do, and--_he_ needs me."
When his emissary had departed, Count Vavel began to reflect whether he
had not been rather hasty.
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