to break an intercourse, which to her was doubtful and unsatisfactory, has contributed more than a little to this new and sudden love. Besides, I have also a suspicion that the quite accidental circumstance of your being a countryman of my unworthy self has made the transference of certain feelings and impressions easier"
An intimation in her first letter to Stephensen came into my mind, and certainly confirmed this supposition. I lowered my eyes, bewildered by his inquisitive glance.
"The favourable conditions, the loneliness have done something, and then, what I do not at all doubt, many excellent and lovable qualities in yourself"
"Shall we not now leave off this rubbish!" I burst out, and got up suddenly. "I understand quite well your ideas, but what the dickens do I care about them? I do not recognise that you have any right to act as Minna's guardian."
"And what the dickens have I to do with your recognition? That is beside the question. I simply have the right to do the best I can to prevent Minna from committing one of those follies, which are not easily put right again, and as it is my own behaviour towards her which to some extent is the reason for this rash haste, it is even my duty—I don't know what you mean by your scornful laughter."
"I thought the feeling of duty belonged to those cosmopolitan prejudices which you did not share."
"On the contrary, it belongs to those which I do share. But there is one motive that very likely influences me still stronger. It is the circumstance that I love her—love her!"
He also had risen. We stood facing one another with the little table between us, staring firmly into one another's
