"I will close my eyes, Eliza, but I shall see you nevertheless in my heart."
She glided up to him with a noiseless step. Faithful to his word, he had closed his eyes firmly. She gazed at him long and tenderly, as if to engrave his features deeply on her heart; then she bent over him and imprinted a kiss on his forehead.
"God bless you, Ulrich," she whispered, and kissed his forehead once more. "Farewell!"
And before he was able to prevent it, or even know it, she glided to the small door leading from the vestry into the street.
Ulrich heard the jar of the door, and opened his eyes. Eliza stood in the open door, and cast a last, parting glance on him. Joachim Haspinger stood behind her.
"Eliza," cried Ulrich, hastening to her, "you will leave me?"
He would have seized her hand, but Haspinger stepped between them.
"Go to your bride, sir," he said, imperatively.
"Eliza will accompany me and go to her father!"