"Let me be!" cried Conrad again, and he violently tore her loose. Catherine tottered forward, stumbled and fell. Her head struck hard against the door-sill.
She came near fainting, but with a great effort picked herself up again, as angry voices struck her ear, and threw herself between the brothers.
"Lambert! Conrad! For God's sake, rather kill me! Conrad, it is your brother. Lambert, he does not know what he is doing!"
The brothers released each other, and panting, looked at one another with flashing eyes. By the sound Lambert's rifle had fallen to the ground. Conrad held his half-raised in his strong hands.
"Now," said Lambert; "why do you not shoot?"
"I do not want to kill you," said Conrad. "If I wanted your life I could have taken it this morning."
"What then do you want?"
"Nothing from you. Why did you come just now? You shall not see me again. Since we have happened again to meet, let me tell you that it must be the last time. Go your own way and let me go mine."
With a powerful swing he threw his rifle on his shoulder and turned away.
Lambert intercepted him. "You must not go. I will forget that you raised your hand against me. Do you also forget that I raised mine against you. By the memory of our father; by the memory of our mother, I conjure you, do not leave your parents' house."