The head forester stepped on the terrace just in time to hear the last words.

“Yes, here I am,” said Herr von Schoenau.  “It’s all your little wife’s fault, Will, that I am at Burgsdorf.  I’m here at her suggestion, and if that mother of your’s is not obstinate and unreasonable and pig-headed as usual—­why I’ll marry her.”

“I pray to God you may, uncle,” answered Will, to whom this summary of his mother’s wonted characteristics was very singular, to say the least.

“Yes, so do I,” agreed Schoenau, “your wife thinks—­”

“I think that you shouldn’t lose a moment,” cried Marietta, “Mamma has just gone to her sitting-room and knows nothing of your arrival.  Will and I will remain behind, and if the worst comes to the worst call on us.  Forward, march!”

With these words she gave him a push, and the sturdy, broad shouldered man turned at her bidding, saying to Will, who entered the house with him: 

“They are all commanders whether they be large or small—­it’s born in them, I suppose.”

Regine von Eschenhagen stood at the window of her cosy room looking out upon her beloved Burgsdorf, which she was to leave in a few days.  Though she had said so decidedly she would go, the decision had been no light matter to her.  The strong, active, capable woman who had been mistress here for thirty years and over, dreaded the quiet and inactivity of city life, of which she had had some slight experience at the time of her quarrel with her son.  She dreaded going back to it now, though she knew it was but just and fitting to leave Willibald and his wife alone, and she had the courage to do what was right.  She heard the door open and turned to see the head forester enter the room.

“Moritz, you here?” she said, surprised.  “It was very sensible of you to come.”

“Yes, I’m always sensible,” answered the head forester, with his usual lack of tact.  “You didn’t have the grace to invite me, but I thought I’d come in person to invite you and your children to Toni’s marriage.  You will come to Fuerstenstein, will you not?”

“Certainly we will come, but we were surprised to hear it was to take place so soon.  I thought you were going to buy them an estate first and settle the matter more slowly!”

“No, they wouldn’t wait or listen to reason.  Our warriors make great demands when they come home covered with glory.  Walldorf said to me quite coolly:  ’You know you said first conquer then marry.  Well we have conquered; now I shall marry without any delay.  The estate can wait, the land won’t run away, but we must be married now!’ Of course Toni seconded everything he said.  What could I do?  I let them name the day then and there.”

Frau von Eschenhagen laughed.

“The young are in a hurry to marry, though they have plenty of time to wait.”

“The old have none to spare, though,” said the head forester promptly, glad of so good a chance to get on the subject near his heart.  “Have you reflected enough over our little affair, Regine?”