Oh, how grandly I had scorned her--after she had
made a long speech of several minutes, to say calmly: "Yes? You had
something to say to me...?"
She was standing by the big stone. She was in great excitement, and
would have run towards me; her arms were already opened. But she
stopped, and stood there wringing her hands. I took off my cap and bowed
to her without a word.
"Just one thing I wanted to say to you to-day, Glahn," she said
entreatingly. And I did not move, but waited, just to hear what she
would say next. "I hear you have been down at the blacksmith's. One
evening it was. Eva was alone in the house."
I started at that, and answered:
"Who told you that?"
"I don't go about spying," she cried. "I heard it last evening; my
father told me. When I got home all wet through last night, my father
said: 'You were rude to the Baron to-day.' 'No,' I answered. 'Where have
you been now?' he asked again. I answered: 'With Glahn.'
"And then my father told me."
I struggled with my despair; I said:
"What is more, Eva has been here."
"Has she been here? In the hut?"
"More than once. I made her go in. We talked together."
"Here too?"
Pause. "Be firm!" I said to myself; and then, aloud:
"Since you are so kind as to mix yourself up in my affairs, I will not
be behindhand.
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