"He is said to have struck twice," observed Frau Wollnow; "the last time when you were lying on the ground."
"I do not believe it and never shall," replied Gotthold; "our seconds had certainly lost their heads and could not afterwards say positively how the affair had happened. But now, my clear Madam and Herr Wollnow, I fear I must have, exhausted your patience and will take my leave. Good Heavens! Twelve o'clock already! It is unpardonable!"
"I could have listened all night," said Frau Wollnow, with a deep sigh, as she also, but very slowly, rose from her chair. "Ah! youth, youth! people are never young but once."
"Thank God," said Gotthold gayly; "otherwise people would be compelled to play their foolish pranks twice."
"Who is so old as to be safe from folly," said Herr Wollnow, with a grave smile.
"You!" exclaimed his wife, embracing him. "You are much too old and far too wicked. People must not only be young, but also good, like our friend here, in order to be so badly rewarded for all his goodness. I can imagine how it went to your heart when Cecilia, married this Brandow. That sweet innocent girl of seventeen wedded to him! Ah! when we see such things it is enough to make us lose faith in mankind forever."
"This faith is not so frequently to be found either in Israel or elsewhere," said Herr Wollnow.
"Will you go?"
"I am going already, my dear Madam."
"Oh, dear! now you are beginning too. I meant to say, will you really go to Dollan?"