You must not make any more flowers, or give any more lessons.
The time of such degradation and humiliation is past, and my daughter can no longer be a school-mistress.

You have only to write the receipt to-day, and I will go with you to the treasury to get the money." "I will not write the receipt," said Marie, gently but firmly.

Her mother, in the act of rising, sank back upon the divan; and the general, apparently quite occupied with his leg, stopped rubbing, and raised his red, bloated face to his daughter in astonishment.

"Did I understand rightly your words, that you would not write the receipt ?" "Yes, mother, I said so; I cannot and will not write it," replied Marie, gently.
"And why cannot you, and will you not write it ?" said her mother, scornfully.
"Because I have no right to the money, and cannot take it, mother, as I will never be the wife of the man you intend me to marry." The general sprang with a savage curse from his arm-chair, and would have rushed to his daughter, but his wife pushed him back into his seat, and approached Marie, who rose, regarding her mother with a firm, sad expression.

"Why can you not be the wife of the man we have chosen for you?
Answer me, WHY you cannot ?" "You know, mother," she replied, and gradually her voice assumed a more decided tone, her cheeks reddened, and an inspired expression beamed from her eyes, and pervaded her whole being--"you know, mother, that I can never be the wife of Herr Ebenstreit, for I do not love him.