me with; oh, but be sure, so much the more bitterly do I reproach myself!"
"Not for my sake, Minna! you have no right to do that.… What should I have to reproach you with? As if I could wish this time had never been, even if it is to bring no future with it! I am so grateful to you for the love I have felt"
"No, Harald! Oh, don't say that"
"Does it pain you? Then I will not speak about it any more. Still less ought I to frighten you by picturing the tragic consequences of such a loss to me.… What has to be borne must be, and, on the contrary, I promise you that I shall do all in my power to get over it sensibly—and—though I cannot attempt to forget you—nor will—" My lips quivered and my eyes filled with tears. "No, no." I continued, "it was not this I wanted to speak of. Besides, your heart will tell it all to you.… I made the suggestion that from now Stephensen and I must agree not to see you again until you have made up your mind. It would be better, if you could leave the town for the present, if you had relations in the country whom you could visit"
"I have a cousin in the neighbourhood of Meissen, her husband has a farm there. I could easily visit them, they asked me only this summer, and I need not even write beforehand."
"So much the better. Can you leave to-morrow?"
"To-morrow? Oh well, I suppose I could."
"Then do it, Minna, It is better not to put it off. And when you have made up your mind, I suppose you will write your decision."
Minna nodded. She had again seated herself on the chair by the window, and was staring at the gardens.
