 Leopold, who is a shy and timid young man, promises Corinna that he will stand up to his mother and that the two shall be wed.Unfortunately he is not able to keep his word and when Corinna realises this, she breaks off the engagement.The novel ends with Corinna and Marcell's wedding and the reader is led to believe that Leopold marries Hildegard Munk (whom Jenny didn't really want as a daughter in law but had to make do with, so that Leopold wouldn't move down in class, i.e.