"'Klaus, let what has lately passed between us be forgotten! Forgive me for having so violently opposed you; it was very wrong of me——'
"'No, no, my old lass; I was more violent than was necessary,' he replied hastily, drawing her to him; 'we were both in fault.'
"'Yes, Klaus; you see I was not honest; I ought to have spoken at once, but I was not sure enough of it. I did not wish to make you uneasy.'
"'By what?' said Klaus hastily.
"Anna Maria hesitated, but held her brother's arm more firmly. I cleared my throat as a warning from my corner by the window, but Anna Maria paid no attention to it; she acted from quick, firm resolution in all that she did, and when occasion came she bravely met the difficulty, which she thought easy enough to overcome.
"'By telling you of a fact which makes Susanna's remaining in this house questionable,' she said, quietly, but decidedly.
"'The old song again, Anna Maria?' he said. 'Your vehemence did not suffice; do you think to catch me this way?'
"'No, Klaus, in Heaven's name, no!' she replied. 'Something different drives me to you now; I did not mean to speak of Susanna to you again; I wished in this hour only one word from you as of old, a single kind word; that it happened thus was the course of the conversation. Forgive me!'
"'You have judged Susanna very severely, Anna Maria,' Klaus began, after a pause, 'and now you have nursed her devotedly and made up for it a hundred times; and yet the same sentiments?—now, when she is ill, and may perhaps remain sickly?'
"'I have expected too much of Susanna's constitution, Klaus, and day and night I have prayed that God might restore her to health. I have desired only her good, believe me. But my opinion of Susanna's character I cannot alter.'