Meanwhile, Habermann had arrived in Rahnstadt, at the Frau Pastorin's. He had turned off from the direct road, and made a circuit, until he could collect himself, that he might not appear before his child in such fearful excitement. As he entered the Frau Pastorin's door, he had indeed controlled himself, but the terrible conflict he had just fought out in his heart left a lassitude and weariness, which made him look ten years older, and could not but strike the little Frau immediately. She sprang up, letting the coffee boil over, which she was taking off, and cried:
"Good heavens! Habermann, what is the matter? Are you sick?"
"No--yes, I believe so. Where is Louise?"
"She went to look for you, didn't you meet her? But sit down! Bless me, how exhausted you look!"
Habermann sat down, and looked about the room, as if to see whether he were alone with the Frau Pastorin.
"Habermann, tell me, what ails you?" said the little Frau, grasping his cold hands in her own.
"It is all over with me; I must go through the world, henceforth, as a useless and dishonored man."
"Oh, no! no! Don't talk like that!"
"That the opportunity of working should be taken from me, I can bear, though it is hard; but that I should also lose my honest name, that pierces me to the heart, that I cannot bear."
"And who should take that from you?" asked the Frau Pastorin, looking him trustfully in the eyes.