She would take it herself, and frankly ask Wolff's father what justified him in accusing her of so base a deed.
The lamps were already lighted in the hall, and the rays from the central one fell upon Herr Casper's colourless face, which wore an expression of despair.

But just as her lips parted to ask the question the odour of musk reached her from the death-chamber, whose door Eva had opened.

Her mother's gentle face, still in death, rose before her memory, and she was forced to exert the utmost self-control not to weep aloud.

Without further reflection she imposed silence upon herself and--yesterday she would not have ventured to do it--threw her arm around Herr Casper's shoulders, gazed affectionately at him, and whispered: "You must not despair, father.

You have a faithful ally in this house in Els." The old man looked down at her in astonishment, but instead of drawing her closer to him he released himself with courteous coldness, saying bitterly: "There is no longer any bond between us and the Ortliebs, Jungfrau Els.