By an involuntary
movement, she held out her hand, which Wilhelm caught and kissed.
They both grew very red, and she looked wistfully at him with her
eyes wet. Had he understood the look, and been of a bold nature, he
would have clasped the girl to his breast and kissed her. Her red
lips would have made scarcely any resistance. But the confusion of
mind passed quickly, the light afternoon sunshine and the sight of
the people passing through the breach in the castle wall brought him
to full consciousness, and the dangerous step was not taken. Loulou
recovered her sprightliness, and going back to his story asked him,
"So you have been in a campaign?"
"Certainly."
"Did you become an officer?"
"No, fraulein, only a 'vize-Feldwebel.'"
"Have you fought in a battle?"
"Oh, yes, at Burkersdork, Skalitz, Koniginhof, and Koniggratz."
"That must have been frightfully interesting. And have you ever
killed one of the enemy?"
"Happily not. It does not fall to the lot of every soldier to kill a
man. He does his duty if he stands up in his place ready to be
killed."
"Have you any photographs of yourself in uniform?"
He looked at her surprised and said:
"No, why?"
A roguish smile, which at the last question had curled at the
corners of her mouth, broke into a merry laugh.
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