d thing if you could travel for a year, and try to retrieve our
fortunes; possibly you might return with some sense, and things would
go on more smoothly."

It cut Lenz to the heart that Annele should be eager for him to leave
her, but he only said--"I could not make up my mind to go, when
everything went well with me, still less can I do so now, when I am so
miserable at heart. I am nothing, and good for nothing, if I have not a
single happy thought in my soul."

"Now I must laugh at you," said Annele, "you could not travel, either
when you were happy, or unhappy."

"I don't understand you; I never did understand you, or you me."

"The worst of all is, that there is not only misery without, but misery
within."

"Put an end to it then, and be kind and good."

"Don't speak so loud, you will wake the child again," said Annele; as
soon as this subject engaged her thoughts, she would not utter a
syllable.

Lenz returned to the next room; and when Annele came in, leaving the
door ajar, he said:--"Now that we are in sorrow, we should love and
cherish each other more than ever; it is the only comfort left to us,
and yet you will not--why will you not?"

"Love cannot be forced."

"Then I must go away."

"And I will stay at home," said Annele, in a desponding voice, "I will
stay with my children."

"They are as much mine as yours."

"No doubt;" said Annele, in a hard tone.

"There is the clock beginning to play its old melodies," said Lenz,
hurriedly, "I cannot bear to hear a single tone--never again! If one of
them could dash out my brains, it would be best, for I cannot get a
single thought out of them. Can't you say a kind word to me, Annele?"

"I don't know any."

"Then I will say one--Let us make peace, and all will be well."

"I am quite content to do so."

"Can't you throw your arms round my neck, and rejoice that I am here
again?"

"Not tonight; perhaps tomorrow I may."

"And if I were to die this very night?"

"Then I should be a widow."

"And marry another?"

"If any one would have me."

"You wish to drive me mad."

"I need not do much for that."

"Oh! Annele, what will be the end of all this?"

"God knows!"

"Annele! was there not a time when we loved each other dearly?"

"Yes; I suppose we once did."

"And cannot it be so again?"

"I don't know."

"Why do you give me such answers?"

"Because you ask me such questions."

Lenz hid his face with his hands, and sat thus ha