niel awakened as from a heavy, frightful dream; he opened his
eyes, and felt an indescribable sensation of pleasure streaming through
him, with soft heavenly warmth. He was in bed in his own room, in his
father's house, Clara was stooping over him, and Lothaire and his
mother were standing near. "At last, at last, oh beloved Nathaniel,
hast thou recovered from thy serious illness--now thou art again mine!"
So spoke Clara, from the very depth of her soul, and clasped Nathaniel
in her arms. But with mingled sorrow and delight did the brightly
glowing tears fall from his eyes, and he deeply groaned forth: "My
own--my own Clara!" Sigismund, who had faithfully remained with his
friend in the hour of trouble, now entered. Nathaniel stretched out
his hand to him. "And thou, faithful brother, hast not deserted me?"
Every trace of Nathaniel's madness had vanished, and he soon gained
strength amid the care of his mother, his beloved, and his friends.
Good fortune also had visited the house, for an old penurious uncle, of
whom nothing had been expected, had died, and had left the mother,
besides considerable property, an estate in a pleasant spot near the
town. Thither Nathaniel, with his Clara, whom he now thought of
marrying, his mother, and Lothaire, desired to go. Nathaniel had now
grown milder and more docile than he had ever been, and he now
understood, for the first time, the heavenly purity and the greatness
of Clara's mind. No one, by the slightest hint, reminded him of the
past. Only, when Sigismund took leave of him, Nathaniel said:
"Heavens, brother, I was in an evil way, but a good angel led me
betimes to the path of light! Ah, that was Clara!" Sigismund did not
let him carry the discourse further for fear that deeply wounding
recollections might burst forth bright and flaming. It was about this
time that the four happy persons thought of going to the estate. They
were crossing, at noon, the streets of the city, where they had made
several purchases, and the high steeple of the town-house already cast
its gigantic shadow over the market-place. "Oh," said Clara, "let us
ascend it once more, and look at the distant mountains!" No sooner
said than done. Nathaniel and Clara both ascended the steps, the
mother returned home with the servant, and Lothaire, not inclined to
clamber up so many steps, chose to remain below. The two lovers stood
arm in arm in the highest gallery of the tower, and looked down upon