She awoke. The dream had vanished, but in her heart there remained the longing, urgent movement of her outstretched arms.
She looked at the portrait of her mother. Her mother was no longer older than she; they were now of the same age, she and the scared-looking child-woman. She had outlived her mother’s years. If she were here.... No, not even to her could she speak of this, to nobody, never.
She threw herself on to the couch and covered her face with her hands. With half-shut eyes, she stared at the flowered linen cover. It began to spread round her. It was linen no longer; it became a meadow, a meadow all covered with flowers and someone was coming towards her from the other end. She did not turn in his direction, yet she knew that he was coming. Her heart beat violently. She raised her head in astonishment. Everything was new, she herself was new. All of a sudden she felt a desire to sing, sing out to the sunshine of something that was greater than she, too great to be retained in her bosom.
To sing.... But the house was asleep. She alone was awake. That was delightful ... to be alone. She felt an irrepressible smile on her lips. “I love him ...” she whispered it softly, but she felt as though in these words she had sung all her songs.
Downstairs the side entrance creaked gently. Christopher had just come home. He looked round and then stole into the office, into the room where his father used to work in the master-builder’s life time. Since Christopher had somehow managed to pass through the technical school, that was his place. Worn out, he leaned his elbows on the writing-table. His shirt was crushed and his face looked crushed too.
Otto Füger came in to him, but he was unable to alter his despairing attitude. Helplessly his mouth went sideways.
“What has happened?” asked the younger Füger.
Christopher looked up wearily. It was all the same to him who questioned him and what he answered. At this moment he would have confessed his misery even to Florian. He had to speak to somebody ... it is a relief to speak.
The straight soft lips of Otto Füger’s mouth went wide apart. His eyes became round. He had long suspected that Christopher gambled. But what he had lost last night was more than he thought possible. Too much.... He steadied his staring features. He wanted to know all there was to know.