"Ah! Nanna, you are both wise and charitable. I shall not endeavor to wrest the secret from you; but you are so much esteemed by me, that at some future day, when I can follow my own inclinations I will return to you."
"I will forget these last words, Mr. Gottlieb, for I think them the saddest you have ever uttered."
"You are right; but I spoke as I thought. It is not my fault if I thought that you were above all others most suitable to become my wife."
As he thus spoke Nanna trembled violently and she looked upon him with a gaze which contained more bitterness than words could have expressed.
"I believe I am mad indeed. I have endeavored to speak in a better spirit, and instead of so doing—I had better go immediately—or—"
"Or what?"
"Or I will, yes, I will, hold you to my heart, and swear to you, as true as I am an honest man, that I love you, and you alone, come what may, I can withhold myself no longer." Gottlieb suited the action to the word, and enfolded the blushing girl in his warm embrace.
"O, Gottlieb!" cried Nanna, weeping and laughing, "this is madness indeed!"
"No, on the contrary it is happiness!"
"But to-morrow you will repent it!"