"And is she still angry with us?"
"Oh, no. I comforted her. But what do we want with her to-day? Come, it is such a beautiful evening and we want to be alone."
Botho agreed, and so they went along the passage and across the yard to the garden. Sultan did not stir and only blinked at the two, as they followed the long middle path and then went over to the bench that stood between the raspberry bushes.
They sat down on the bench. It was very still, only they could hear a chirping from the fields beyond and the moon was high above them.
She leaned against him and said quietly and affectionately: "And so this is the last time that I shall hold your hand in mine?"
"Yes, Lena. Can you forgive me?"
"How can you always ask that? What have I to forgive?"
"That I make your heart ache."
"Yes, it aches. That is true."
And she was silent again and looked up at the dim stars that were appearing in the sky.