Henrica followed him into the house and there talked with him in a low tone, until Georg called her, saying:
“Fraulein Van Hoogstraten, may I ask for a word of farewell?”
“Farewell, Herr von Dornburg!” she answered distantly, but advanced a step towards him.
Georg had also approached, and now held out his hand. She hesitated a moment, then placed hers in it, and said so softly, that only he could hear:
“Do you love Maria?”
“So I am to confess?”
“Don’t refuse my last request, as you did the first. If you can be generous, answer me fearlessly. I’ll not betray your secret to any one. Do you love Frau Van der Werff?”
“Yes, Fraulein.”
Henrica drew a long breath, then continued: “And now you are rushing out into the world to forget her?”
“No, Fraulein.”