to you and offer you his hand to save you, who
could again make desirable the life you would fain throw away as a
worthless possession?" A lightning like glance from her gloomy eyes
fell upon him. Contrary to his usual custom, he endured it and could
not conceal his exultation; his bold shaft had struck the sore spot in
her heart.

"Who has told you that I am miserable?" she passionately exclaimed.
"And if it be true how do you know that I would not a thousand times
rather remain unhappy than be rescued by you and your God? If you're
right in supposing that all mankind has abandoned me, do you wish to
rob me of what is yet left to me, my own individuality, my freedom, my
solitude, in which I need answer to no one for my suffering? You've
asked me the nature of the feeling that holds me aloof from you. It is
this: I've a _horror_ of you! In the first hour of our acquaintance I
detected in you the demon to whom nothing is sacred, not even the grief
of a poor unhappy woman; who merely to gratify his selfishness, would
fain obtain the mastery over everything, and therefore does not even
think what others despise or overlook--a creature so destitute of all
joys as I--too insignificant to be made useful. But you're mistaken,
and neither your heaven nor your hell will help you; this is the last
time you'll ever see me, as truly--"

"Silence!" he imperiously exclaimed. "Do not forswear your own
salvation, do not conjure up the fiends who are lying in wait for
souls. And moreover no such vows are needed. Believe me, Christiane, I
too have pride, and strength to suffer for its sake, and if I speak in
vain to-day, it will be my turn to avoid you. But you must listen now.
You're too just to condemn me unheard." He drew a long breath, as if he
were obliged to gather fresh courage for what he wanted to say. Then
suddenly in his softest voice, into which when he chose he could throw
an almost magical influence, he continued: "Sit down quietly; I will
try to be brief. But you are greatly exhausted. You have just suffered
bitterly again; do not deny it, Christiane, my longing jealous heart,
makes my eyes keen; I could not tell you what or whom it was that
caused you pain, but your soul is still trembling from the effects of
this blow. Is not it so?" He relapsed into silence and watched her
intently. She was gazing into vacancy but her lips quivered. "You're a
fiend," she murmured. "But go on--go on--! let us get to the end."

"To th