Lenz passed his hand across his brow as she spoke, and said, "Annele, may I ask you a question?"
"Yes, I will tell you anything."
"Don't be angry with me, but is it true that you are as good as engaged to the engineer?"
"Thank you for asking me so plainly. There is my hand upon it, there is no word of truth in the story; nothing has ever passed between us."
Lenz held her hand firmly, and said, "Permit me one question more."
"Ask what you will, you shall have an honest answer."
"Why is your manner towards me so different when Pilgrim is here? Has anything ever passed between you and him?"
"May this wine be poison to me, if I do not speak the truth," replied Annele, seizing Lenz's glass, and putting her lips to it, in spite of his assuring her there was no need to swear; that he could not bear oaths. "If all men were like you," she continued, "there would be no need of oaths. Pilgrim and I are always teasing and bantering each other, but he does not really understand me; and, when you are by, I cannot endure his jesting and nonsense. But now I must ask you a favor. If you want to know anything about me, no matter what, ask no one but myself. Promise me; give me your hand on it!"
They grasped each other's hand.
"I am a landlord's daughter," continued Annele, sadly. "I am not so fortunate as other girls, who do not have to receive every one that comes, and laugh and talk with him. I carry the thing through as well as I can, but am not always what I seem. I know I may say this to you. I might often be depressed; but the only way is to put on a bold face, and laugh sadness away."