320 WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT

** My daughter," he said, " your mother and I have chosen
for your husband Colonel Fergus Drummond. We consider
the match to be in all ways a suitable one. We esteem him
highly, and are convinced that he will make you happy, lov-
ing you, as he says, tenderly and truly. In this room where
you first saw him, I need not recall to you the services he
rendered to us, and I exhort you to obey this our order, and
to be a true and loving spouse to him."

The girl looked up now. ** That will I, father and mother,
and most willingly, and will always to my life's end be a true
and loving wife to him."

*' Take her. Colonel," the count said, putting her hand into
that of Fergus. " You have won your bride fairly and well,
and I know that you will be a worthy husband to her."

" That I swear to be," Fergus said, as he stooped and kissed
her. " I feel how great is the boon that you have given me,
and shall, to my life's end, be deeply thankful to you both for
the confidence which you have placed in me, in thus intrust-
ing her to my care. And to you, Thirza, do I swear to be a
loving husband to the end of my life."

"And now," the coimt said, "we will leave these young
people till the bell rings," and, taking the countess's hand, he
led her into the next room. The ten minutes that passed be-
fore the signal for dinner was given, sufficed to do much to
lessen the awkwardness of the occasion, and Fergus was heartily
grateful to the count for having left them to themselves for
that short time. The dinner passed off as usual, the count
chatting gaily, while Fergus attempted with indifferent success
to follow him. Thirza was very silent, but her cheeks were
flushed and her eyes radiant with happiness.
