"They were not standing close together now, but opposite one another. 'But beneath all the show and glitter which I despise there beats a quick, warm human heart, Klaus. Susanna is no longer the child you think to see in her. Susanna has—Susanna is—Susanna loves you, Klaus!'
"The twilight had gradually deepened. I could no longer see Klaus's face distinctly, but only heard a quick, violent breathing. He did not answer, he stood motionless. 'Foolish child!' thought I, looking at Anna Maria.
"'You do not believe me, Klaus?' she asked, as he remained silent. 'But it is so; I am not mistaken! Susanna talked of you incessantly in her delirium; I know it from a hundred little indications. Such an affection increases daily and hourly—is the girl to become unhappy? Perhaps she does not know it yet herself, but the awakening must surely come.'
"Again no answer. Klaus sat down in the nearest chair, and looked before him, motionless. The servants' supper-bell was now ringing outside, a fresh shower of rain came pelting against the sandstone pavement of the terrace, and there was a spectral light in the great, dim room. I imagined phantoms were rising out of every nook and corner, and the great flowered portière moved slightly, as if some one were standing behind it, listening.
"'You are right,' said Klaus, at length, in a lifeless tone; 'what is to become of her? The wife of a Hegewitz—that is impossible; so you think, do you not, Anna Maria?'
"'Yes,' she replied, simply.
"'Yes,' he repeated, springing up and pacing the room with long steps. 'And whither would you banish the girl?' he asked, stopping before his sister.
"'Not banish, Klaus; that sounds so different from what I intend,' she said, frankly. 'Take her to a pension in a southern district, perhaps in Switzerland, and so give her an opportunity to thoroughly heal her sick heart.'
"'That sounds reasonable and well-considered,' he returned, bitterly. 'Meanwhile, Susanna is not yet restored to health.' And after a pause he added: 'I have put off for a long time a necessary journey; I shall go to-morrow to O——, in Silesia; I shall be acting to your mind so, shall I not?'
"Anna Maria started. 'To O——, do you say?'