Das Kind ruft

Ernest Schiller a wealthy merchant has the cherished ambition to secure as his soninlaw the Count De Grechy a member of the nobility His ambition is about to be realized for the Count has accepted an urgent invitation to be Schillers guest His arrival is hailed with delight by the merchant who offers the freedom of his home Bertha Schillers daughter does not experience the same enthusiasm which is manifested by her father The reason for this is that she has pledged her heart and hand to Franz Rambauld her sweetheart The Counts attentions therefore are greatly distressing to Bertha Nevertheless through her fathers insistence the unfortunate girl is compelled to engage herself to the Count