Caterina put her arms round her and she went on sobbing until at last Caterina said soothingly,
“You have to be sensible, dearest.”
“You said – you would save me, but now he has – a wedding ring and I cannot escape. I know there is no way I can.”
The words came almost incoherently from her and she was shaking as she wept against Caterina’s shoulder.
Then Caterina said rather sharply,
“Listen, dearest Henriet, I have promised to save you and I will do so. But you have to promise me that you will do nothing desperate until I have it clearly in my mind what will happen.”
“What can happen?” Henriet cried. “Except that I will have to marry that dreadful man when I want to stay here and be with Fritz.”
Caterina realised it was hopeless to reason with her.
“Please, please try to stop cryi
