"How could they have been? They would have expected quite a different daughter-in-law, and they would have been right. But as it is, there is no one but you who has any claim on me, if only you will be satisfied with me as I am."
"My own beloved wife! But you are crying?" I exclaimed, as my lips met tears on her cheek.
"Never mind! But it sounded so sweet, do say it again!"
"My wife!"
Already we had more than once walked backwards and forwards through the little village. The night was pitch dark.
The lights of the solitary windows, which were scattered on both sides of the dark valley, added more to the cosiness than to the brightness of the place. Above the obscurity of the heights and rocks sparkled the stars, keen and restless, and now and again a falling star darted over our heads. Besides our own footsteps we only heard the little brook babbling between the stones, and from time to time a passing movement in the willows on its bank, as if an enormous animal was suddenly shaking itself.
As we, for the third time, came near to the lights that beckoned us from the Zedlitz Villa, our steps grew gradually slower.
"You sigh?" said Minna when, against our will, we had at last stopped walking.
"I have something like a presentiment, I cannot help it. It seems to me so sad to part from Rathen, I feel depressed—I fear something, I think."
"We have been so happy here. But it is my own dear town we are going to, I am looking forward also to our walks there."
