And only when he had sat down did she release his hand.
Now or never! he thought. He made another attempt to assume a light and indifferent tone, he smiled, looked up into the air. Good.
"So then you're engaged and won't even tell me. And I'm your neighbor at home."
She thought a moment.
"That was not exactly what I wanted to talk to you about today," she answered.
He at once became serious and said in a low voice:
"Well well, I dare say I know all about it."
Pause.
He began again:
"Of course I knew all the time that it couldn't be any use ... I mean, that it was not I who ... I was only the Miller's son, and you.... Of course that is so. And I can't even make out how I dare sit here beside you and hint at it. I ought to stand before you, or kneel over there, on the ground. That's how it ought to be. But somehow.... And then all these years I have been away have made a difference. I seem to have more confidence now. For I know that I'm no longer a child and I know that you can't throw me into prison, if you wanted to. That gives me courage to speak. But you mustn't be angry with me; I'd rather keep it to myself."