Then she struck a few chords, and as if compelled by some unknown impulse she began to sing Mendelssohn's beautiful melody,
"Es ist bestimmt in Gottes Rath,
Dass man vom Liebsten, was man hat,
Muss scheiden."
Her lovely pure voice had great richness of tone, and filled the room as with a magnetic stream. The lieutenant stepped outside into the shadow of the evening twilight, and Madame von Wendenstein rested her head in her hands, whilst her sobs became audible.
The voice of the singer grew richer and more expressive, though her face showed only blank indifference, and as she reached the conclusion a firm conviction, a holy faith rang through her song:
"Wenn Menschen auseinander gehn,
So sagen sie: Auf Wiedersehn!"
There was a deep silence as she ended, so great was the impression made by the song.
The lieutenant came back from the terrace, looking very grave. He gave one long affectionate look at the young girl, who had risen from her seat and was standing near the piano, her eyes cast down, and with the same calm expressionless look on her face; then he went up to his mother and kissed her hand.
The old lady stood up, took his head between her hands, and pressed a warm kiss upon his brow. She whispered softly, "God protect you, my son;" then she gently thrust him from her, as if she wished the sorrow of leave-taking to be ended.
The president pressed his son's hand, and said: