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you？〃
〃Because it is not God's will； sir！ 'The blessing of the parents
builds houses for the children；' says the proverb； hence we could
not build a house； sir； for we had not the blessing of our parents。
Now you have it； Elza brings it to you； and she brings you love；
sir； and happiness。 No； do not shake your head； she brings you
happiness。 You do not believe it now； for your heart grieves； and he
who has such a wound thinks that it never will heal。 But love is a
good surgeon。 Elza will dress your heart and heal it。〃
〃And your heart； Eliza； will it heal； too？ For your heart has
likewise a wound； and； whatever you may say to the contrary； you
loved me。〃
〃I loved you！〃 she exclaimed。 〃No； say rather I still love you！ If I
had not loved you； should I have been strong enough to withstand
your supplications and resist my own heart in order to secure your
happiness？ Oh； be happy； then；be happy through me and for my sake！
Fold Elza to your heart； love her and let her love you； and when in
future days； happy in Elza's arms； and surrounded by her sweet
children； you remember the past and its grief smilingly； do not
forget me； but say； 'Lizzie was right after all！ She loved me
faithfully！'〃
〃Faithfully？〃 he asked； bursting into tears。 〃Your heart will heal
likewise； Eliza； you will forget me in the arms of another husband。〃
〃No； sir！ My heart I hope； will heal； but God alone will heal it；
and no other husband。 I am not able to love another man； and I
believe； moreover； I have something else to do。 The fatherland needs
brave hands； and I belong to my fatherland and my father。 We shall
have war again； sir； war with the Bavarians。 Thank God； you will not
be among our enemies！ I shall carry our wounded out of the thickest
of the fight； and nurse them； and if a bullet hits me； well； then； I
shall die for the fatherland； and it will gladden your heart； also；
to hear that Lizzie Wallner died as a brave daughter of the Tyrol。 I
pray God to let me die in this manner。 Amen！ But now； sir； go to
your young bride。 She will be wondering already at your long
absence。 Oh； go to her； sir； and be kind and loving to her； let her
never suspect what has taken place between us； and that you did not
marry her of your own accord。〃
〃I cannot dissemble； Eliza； I cannot turn my heart like a glove。〃
〃Do I ask you to do so？ Have you not always loved Elza？ Love her
now； then； love her for my sake； love me in her！ Go； sir； Elza is
waiting for you。 I shall go too。 Our good Haspinger is waiting for
me； and I shall go with him to my father。 We shall never meet again；
and therefore I will give you now my wedding…present。 You asked me
for it this morning； and I refused； but now I will give it to you
voluntarily。 Close your eyes； sir； for you must not see what I give
you； and do not open them until I tell you to。〃
〃I will close my eyes； Eliza； but I shall see you nevertheless in my
heart。〃
She glided up to him with a noiseless step。 Faithful to his word； he
had closed his eyes firmly。 She gazed at him long and tenderly； as
if to engrave his features deeply on her heart； then she bent over
him and imprinted a kiss on his forehead。
〃God bless you； Ulrich；〃 she whispered； and kissed his forehead once
more。 〃Farewell！〃
And before he was able to prevent it； or even know it； she glided to
the small door leading from the vestry into the street。
Ulrich heard the jar of the door； and opened his eyes。 Eliza stood
in the open door； and cast a last； parting glance on him。 Joachim
Haspinger stood behind her。
〃Eliza；〃 cried Ulrich； hastening to her； 〃you will leave me？〃
He would have seized her hand； but Haspinger stepped between them。
〃Go to your bride； sir；〃 he said； imperatively。
〃Eliza will accompany me and go to her father！〃
CHAPTER XXXIX。
THE TREATY OF PEACE。
The Emperor Francis was still at Prince Lichtenstein's castle of
Totis； in Hungary； but for some days past there had no longer
reigned there the profound silence and calm monotony which had
prevailed during the first days of the imperial sojourn。 Couriers
came and went； equipages rolled up； and conveyed to the castle some
of the Austrian diplomatists； with whom the emperor conversed a long
while in his cabinet； whereupon they departed again。 Even Baron von
Thugut； the all…powerful ex…minister； had been drawn from his
tranquil retirement； and called to the headquarters of the Emperor
Francis at Totis。 Francis had locked himself up with him in his
cabinet； and conversed with him in so low a tone that Hudelist；
although he had applied his ear to the keyhole； had been unable to
hear a single word of importance； and the emperor was so reticent as
to the subject of his conversation with Thugut； that the Empress
Ludovica； although； after Thugut's departure； she had sought
frequently to fathom the meaning of his presence there in her
interviews with the emperor； did not receive the slightest
information from her husband。
Great commotion reigned at Castle Totis already early in the morning
of the 12th of October。 Prince Lichtenstein had arrived in the first
place； and Count Bubna had come soon afterward。 The emperor had gone
with the two diplomatists to his cabinet； they had left it several
hours afterward； and departed immediately。
Count Metternich had likewise arrived at Totis； and repaired at once
to the emperor's rooms。 The count ordered the footman in the
anteroom to announce him to his majesty； but the servant shook his
head with a polite smile。
〃It is unnecessary for me to announce your excellency；〃 he said。
〃His majesty ordered me to conduct your excellency at once to his
cabinet。 Be so gracious； therefore； as to follow me； your
excellency。〃
And he hastened； with a noiseless step； through the apartments：
Count Metternich followed him quickly； and an imperceptible sneer
played over his fine youthful face as he was walking through these
sumptuous rooms； whose deserted appearance was the best proof of the
precarious situation of the emperor。
The footman stood now before the door of the imperial cabinet； after
waiting until his excellency had come close up to him； he opened
this door； and said； in a loud voice； 〃His excellency； Count
Metternich！〃
When the count entered the cabinet； the emperor was sitting at his
writing…table； and holding in his hand a paper which he had read；
but which he laid down now； to rise and greet the count。 It did not
escape Metternich's keen； prying eyes； that the emperor's face was
more serene to…day than it had been for along time past； and； on
bowing deeply to his majesty； he asked himself what might be the
cause of this unusual serenity； and who might have brought the glad
tidings which had awakened so remarkable a change。
〃Welcome； count； welcome！〃 said the emperor； in his sonorous voice；
and with a graceful smile。 〃I sent for you because I am exceedingly
anxious to learn the progress of your peace…negotiations at
Altenburg。 Is there no prospect yet of a speedy termination of this
abominable war？〃
〃Your majesty； I regret to say that the negotiations are progressing
very slowly；〃 said Count Metternich； mournfully。
〃The Emper