In spite of the subdued tone there was such terrible positiveness in these words, that Cecilia quaked. For the first time, a dread fear, a secret anguish, took possession of her. This Runeck looked as if he were ready to maintain the truth of his words in the face of the whole world. Only suppose that he had not spoken falsely--suppose--she cast the thought far from her, but nevertheless she turned faint and dizzy.
"Leave me!" said she, with quivering lips. "Go!"
Egbert's eye rested moodily upon her countenance, then he bowed his head.
"You cannot forgive the affront I gave you. I understand that. But, believe me, this has also been a trying hour for me--the most trying of my life!"
He went, and when Cecilia looked up, he had already disappeared among the trees, and she stood alone. High up on the cross of the Whitestone her veil was waving and fluttering, about her murmured the woods, and the last church-bell died softly away in the distance.
CHAPTER X.
[MAIA'S CHOICE.]
On the terrace of the Odensburg manor-house Eberhardt Dernburg and Oscar von Wildenrod were walking up and down, engaged in conversation. They had become absorbed in a political discussion, that was conducted with much animation on the part of the older gentleman, while the younger, contrary to his custom, appeared to be silent and abstracted. From time to time his glance would be directed to the large grassplot where Maia was playing croquet with Count Victor von Eckardstein.
"There will be a hot contest at this session of the Reichstag, as is plainly to be foreseen," Dernburg was just saying. "It is to be called together immediately after the elections and I must just make up my mind, to sacrifice the greatest part of the winter to my duties as a member."
"Do you calculate then, positively, upon being re-elected?" asked Wildenrod.