During the forenoon, when his sisters were out, and his stepmother was occupied, he found an opportunity to speak with her alone: she was in a fever, always waiting for him to have spoken to Madam Beck.
"Elizabeth," he said, gently smoothing her hair, for she looked dispirited, and stood with her eyes fixed upon the ground, "I couldn't leave without having spoken to you again."
She still kept her eyes upon the ground, but didn't withdraw herself from his hand.
"Do you really care for me?—will you be my wife?"
She was silent. At last she said, a shade paler, and as if with an effort—
"Yes—Herr Beck."
"Say 'du' to me—say Carl," he pleaded, with much feeling, "and—look at me."
She looked at him, but not as he had expected. It was with a fixed, cold look she said—
"Yes, if we are engaged."
"Are we not then?"