"We shall not want it then," said Lenz; and Annele asked in her clear voice:—
"Do you know who will not believe you?"
"You?"
"No! the world will never believe it; if you were to swear it a hundred times over, no man will credit, that he who shared our deadly peril, will not share his life with us henceforth. The world will in future give us credit for your sake, and make us rich if we like."
"You are as shrewd and mischievous as ever," said Petrowitsch; "I thought all your gay gibes were at an end for ever."
"I am thankful they are not," cried Lenz; "Annele, keep up your lively spirits; if God rescues us from this peril, be honest and merry, as Pilgrim says."
Annele threw her arms round Lenz's neck, and kissed him affectionately. All the three suddenly felt that they had become as cheerful as if all danger were past, and yet, at this moment, it was greater than ever. They would none of them point it out to the others, but yet they saw with awe and fear, that the walls were trembling, and the cross beams sinking.
Annele and Lenz held each other in a close embrace:—
"Let us die thus, and shelter the child by our bodies," cried Annele. "Farewell, life! Lord God, save our child!"
"Hark! there is a hollow sound; help is at hand! we are saved! we are saved!"