She threw aside her cape and hat, arranged her hair with her hand, and sat down in silence. Great alarm was evident on her face.
"I hear thee, Yosef."
"It is four years since the death of Gustav, who confided thee to me. I have kept the promise given him as well as I was able, and as I knew how, but the relation between us has not been such as it should be. This must change, Helena."
He needed to draw breath, he had to pronounce sentence on himself.
In the silence which lasted awhile, the beating of Helena's heart could be heard. Her face was pale, her eyes blinked quickly, as is usual with women who are frightened.
"Must they change?" whispered she, in a scarcely audible voice.
"Be my wife."
"Yosef!"
She placed her hands together, as if for prayer, and looked at him a moment with eyes wandering because of pressing thoughts and feelings.
"Be my wife. The time of which I spoke to thee before has come."