e：　you　would　know　that　it　was　unseemly；　and　that；　above　all　other　things；　you　should　show　reverence　and　obedience　to　your　mother。　No；　Camilla；　God　be　thanked！　you　are　but　a　foolish　child；　and　therefore　I　forgive　you。〃
  Louise　drew　near　her　daughter　and　tried　to　clasp　her　tenderly　in　her　arms；　but　Camilla　struggled　roughly　against　it。
  〃You　shall　not　call　me　a　child；〃　said　she；　rudely。　〃I　will　no　longer　bear　it！　it　angers　me！　and　if　you　repeat　it；　mamma；　I　will　declare　to　every　one　that　I　am　sixteen　years　old！〃
  〃And　why　will　you　say　that；　Camilla？〃
  Camilla　looked　up　with　a　cunning　smile。
  〃Why？〃　she　repeated；　〃ah！　you　think　I　do　not　know　why　I　must　always　remain　a　child？　It　is　because　you　wish　to　remain　a　young　woman　therefore　you　declare　to　all　the　world　that　I　am　but　twelve　years　old！　But　no　one　believes　you；　mamma；　not　one　believes　you。　The　world　laughs　at　you；　but　you　do　not　see　ityou　think　you　are　younger　when　you　call　me　a　child。　I　say　to　you　I　will　not　endure　it！　I　will　be　a　ladyI　will　adorn　myself　and　go　into　society。　I　will　not　remain　in　the　school…room　with　a　governess　while　you　are　sparkling　in　the　saloon　and　enchanting　your　followers　by　your　beauty。　I　will　also　have　my　worshippers；　who　pay　court　to　me；　I　will　write　and　receive　love…letters　as　other　maidens　do；　I　will　carry　on　my　own　little　love…affairs　as　all　other　girls　do；　as　you　did；　from　the　time　you　were　twelve　years　old；　and　still　do！〃
  〃Silence；　Camilla！　or　I　will　make　you　feel　that　you　are　still　a　child！〃　cried　Louise；　raising　her　arm　threateningly　and　approaching　the　divan。
  〃Would　you　strike　me；　mother？〃　said　she；　with　trembling　lips。　〃I　counsel　you　not　to　do　it。　Raise　your　hand　once　more　against　me；　but　think　of　the　consequences。　I　will　run　away！　I　will　fly　to　my　poor；　dear　father；　whom　you；　unhappy　one；　have　made　a　drunkard！　I　will　remain　with　himhe　loves　me　tenderly。　If　I　were　with　him；　he　would　no　longer　drink。〃
  〃Oh；　my　God；　my　God！〃　cried　Louise；　with　tears　gushing　from　her　eyes；　〃it　is　he　who　has　planted　this　hate　in　her　hearthe　has　been　the　cause　of　all　my　wretchedness！　She　loves　her　father　who　has　done　nothing　for　her；　and　she　hates　her　mother　who　has　shown　her　nothing　but　love。〃　With　a　loud　cry　of　agony；　she　clasped　her　hands　over　her　face　and　wept　bitterly。
  Camilla　drew　close　to　her；　grasped　her　hands　and　pulled　them　forcibly　from　her　face；　then　looked　in　her　eyes　passionately　and　scornfully。　Camilla　was　indeed　no　longer　a　child。　She　stood　erect；　pale；　and　fiercely　excited；　opposite　to　her　mother。　Understanding　and　intellect　flashed　from　her　dark　eyes。　There　were　lines　around　her　mouth　which　betrayed　a　passion　and　a　power　with　which　childhood　has　nothing　to　do。
  〃You　say　you　have　shown　me　nothing　but　love；〃　said　Camilla；　in　a　cold　and　cutting　tone。　〃Mother；　what　love　have　you　shown　me？　You　made　my　father　wretched；　and　my　childish　years　were　spent　under　the　curse　of　a　most　unhappy　marriage。　I　have　seen　my　father　weep　while　you　were　laughing　merrilyI　have　seen　him　drunk　and　lying　like　a　beast　at　my　feet；　while　you　were　in　our　gay　saloon　receiving　and　entertaining　guests　with　cool　unconcern。　You　say　you　have　shown　me　nothing　but　love。　You　never　loved　me；　mother；　never！　Had　you　loved　me；　you　would　have　taken　pity　with　my　futureyou　would　not　have　given　me　a　step…father　while　I　had　a　poor；　dear　father；　who　had　nothing　in　the　wide　world　but　me；　me　alone！　You　think　perhaps；　mother；　that　I　am　not　unhappy；　while　I　am　giddy　and　play　foolish　pranks；　you　believe　me　to　be　happy　and　contented。　Ah；　mother；　I　have　an　inward　horror　and　prophetic　fear　of　the　future　which　never　leaves　me；　it　seems　to　me　that　evil　spirits　surround　meas　if　they　enchanted　me　with　strange；　alluring　songs。　I　know　they　will　work　my　destruction；　but　I　cannot　withstand　themI　must　listen；　I　must　succumb　to　them。　I　would　gladly　be　differentbe　better。　I　desire　to　be　a　virtuous　and　modest　girl；　but　alas；　alas；　I　cannot　escape　from　this　magic　circle　to　which　my　mother　has　condemned　me！　I　have　lived　too　fast；　experienced　too　muchI　am　no　longer　a　childI　am　an　experienced　woman。　The　world　and　the　things　of　the　world　call　me　with　a　thousand　alluring　voices；　and　I　shall　be　lost　as　my　mother　was　lost！　I　am　her　most　unhappy　daughter；　and　her　blood　is　in　my　heart！〃　Almost　insensible；　crushed　by　excitement　and　passion；　Camilla　sank　to　the　earth。
  Her　mother　looked　at　her　with　cold　and　tearless　eyes；　her　hair　seemed　to　stand　erect；　and　a　cold；　dead　hand　seemed　placed　upon　her　heart　and　almost　stilled　its　beatings。　〃I　have　deserved　this；〃　murmured　she；　〃God　punishes　the　levity　of　my　youth　through　my　own　child。〃　She　bowed　down　to　her　daughter　and　raised　her　softly　in　her　arms。
  〃Come；　my　child；〃　she　said；　tenderly；　〃we　will　forget　this　hourwe　will　strive　to　live　in　love　and　harmony　with　each　other。　You　are　right！　You　are　no　longer　a　child；　and　I　will　think　of　introducing　you　to　the　world。〃
  〃And　you　will　dismiss　Madame　Brunnen；〃　said　Camilla；　gayly。　〃Oh；　mamma；　you　have　no　idea　how　she　tortures　and　martyrs　me　with　her　Argus…eyes；　and　watches　me　day　and　night。　Will　you　not　dismiss　her；　mamma；　and　take　no　other　governess？〃
  〃I　will　think　of　it；〃　said　her　mother；　sadly。　But　now　a　servant　entered　and　announced　Count　Ranuzi。　Madame　du　Trouffle　blushed；　and　directed　the　servant　to　conduct　him　to　the　parlor。
  Camilla　looked　at　her　roguishly；　and　said：　〃If　you　really　think　me　a　grown…up　girl；　take　me　with　you　to　the　parlor。〃
  Madame　du　Trouffle　refused。　〃You　are　not　properly　dressed；　and　besides；　I　have　important　business　with　the　count。〃
  Camilla　turned　her　back　scornfully；　and　her　mother　left　the　room；　Camilla　returned　to　the　sofa　and　Madame　du　Trouffle　entered　the　saloon。　In　the　levity　and　frivolity　of　their　hearts　they　had　both　forgotten　this　sad　scene　in　the　drama　of　a　demoralized　family　life；　such　scenes　had　been　too　often　repeated　to　make　any　lasting　impression。
  Madame　du　Trouffle　found　Count　Ranuzi　awaiting　her。　He　came　forward　with　such　a　joyous　greeting；　that　she　was　flattered；　and　gave　him　her　hand　with　a　gracious　smile。　She　said　triumphantly　to　herself　that　the　power　of　her　charms　was　not　subdued；　since　the　handsome　and　much　admired　Ranuzi　was　surely　captivated　by　them。
  The　count　had　pleaded　yesterday　for　an　interview；　and　he　had　done　this　with　so　mysterious　and　melancholy　a　mien；　that　the　gay　and　sportive　Louise　had　called　him　the　Knight　of　Toggenberg；　and　had　asked　him　plaintively　if　he　was　coming　to　die　at　her　feet。
  〃Possibly；〃　he　answered；　with　grave　earnestness〃possibly；　if　you　are　cruel　enough　to　refuse　the　request　I　prefer。〃
  These　words　had　occupied　the　thoughts　of　this　vain　coquette　during　the　whole　night；　she　was　convinced　that　Ranuzi；　ravished　by　her　beauty；　wished　to　make　her　a　declaration；　and　she　had　been　hesitating　whether　to　reject　or　encourage　him。　As　he　advanced　so　gracefully　and　smilingly　to　meet　her；　she　resolved　to　encourage　him　and　make　him　forget　the　mockery　of　yesterday。
  Possibly　Ranuzi　read　this　in　her　glance；　but　he　did　not　regard　it；　he　had　attained　his　aimthe　interview　which　he　desired。　〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃I　come　to　make　honorable　amends；　and　to　plead　at　your　feet　for　pardon。〃　He　bowed　on　one　knee；　and　looked　up　beseechingly。
  Louise　found　that　his　languishing　and　at　the　same　time　glowing　eyes　were　very　beautiful；　and　she　was　entirely　ready　to　be　gracious；　although　she　did　not　know　the　offence。　〃Stand　up；　count；〃　said　she；　〃and　let　us　talk　reasonably　together。　What　have　you　done；　and　for　what　must　I　forgive　you？〃
  〃You　annihilate　me　with　your　magnanimity；〃　sighed　Ranuzi。　〃You　are　so　truly　noble　as　to　have　forgotten　my　boldness　of　yesterday；　and　you　choose　to　forget　that　the　poor；　imprisoned　soldier；　intoxicated　by　your　beauty；　carried　away　by　your　grace　and　amiability；　has　dared　to　love　you　and　to　confess　it。　But　I　swear　to　you；　madame；　I　will　never　repeat　this　offence。　The　graceful　mockery　and　keen　wit　with　which　you　punished　me　yesterday　has　deeply　moved　me；　and　I　assure　you；　madame；　you　have　had　more　influence　over　me　than　any　prude　with　her　most　eloquent　sermon　on　virtue　could　have　done。　I　have　seen　my　crime；　and　never　again　will　my　lips　dare　to　confess　what　lives　and　glows　in　my　heart。〃　He　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it　most　respectfully。
  Louise　was　strangely　surprised；　and　it　seemed　to　her　not　at　all　necessary　for　the　count　to　preserve　so　inviolable　a　silence　as　to　his　love；　but　she　was　obliged　to　appear　pleased；　and　she　did　this　with　facility　and　grace。
  〃I　thank　you；〃　she　said；　gayly；　〃that　you　have　freed　me　from　a　lover　whom；　as　the　wife　of　Major　du　Trouffle；　I　should　have　been　compelled　to　banish　from　my　house。　Now　I　dare　give　a　pleasant；　kindly　welcome；　to　Count　Ranuzi；　and　be　ready　at　all　times　to　serve　him　gladly。〃
  Ranuzi　looked　steadily　at　her。　〃Will　you　truly　do　this？〃　said　he；　sighing〃will　you　interest　yourself　for　a　poor　prisoner；　who　has　no　one　to　hear　and　sympathize　in　his　sorrows？〃
  Louise　gave　him　her　hand。　〃Confide　in　me；　sir　count；〃　said　she；　with　an　impulse　of　her　better　nature；　〃make　known　your　sorrows；　and　be　assured　that　I　will　take　an　interest　in　them。　You　are　so　prudent　and　reasonable　as　not　to　be　my　lover；　and　I　will　be　your　friend。　Here　is　my　handI　offer　you　my　friendship；　will　you　accept；　it？〃