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THERESA.
175

against the old oak. She wore the scarlet cap broidered with fur, the grey stuff dress, and the plaited apron: her beautiful profile was half turned towards him.

"Theresa!" he whispered; when, starting at the face, which was now completely given to view, he exclaimed, "Is it possible?" for he saw instantly that it was the Countess before him.

"Yes, Adalbert—or Ernest—by which name shall I claim you?" And the next moment she was in his arms.

Confession and forgiveness followed of course; though the Baron von Haitzinger resolved that he would give no encouragement to his grand-daughters' being brought up in unsophisticated seclusion, as it rarely happens that two experiments of the same kind turn out well. Still, it is but justice to state, that Theresa never had any further occasion to regret that her husband's heart was once lost and twice won.