g utterly melted in
inconsolable grief, "Oh! Clara! Clara!" She drew him softly to her
heart and said in a low but very grave and impressive tone, "Nathanael,
my darling Nathanael, throw that foolish, senseless, stupid thing into
the fire." Then Nathanael leapt indignantly to his feet, crying, as he
pushed Clara from him, "You damned lifeless automaton!" and rushed
away. Clara was cut to the heart, and wept bitterly. "Oh! he has never
loved me, for he does not understand me," she sobbed.

Lothair entered the arbour. Clara was obliged to tell him all that had
taken place. He was passionately fond of his sister; and every word of
her complaint fell like a spark upon his heart, so that the displeasure
which he had long entertained against his dreamy friend Nathanael was
kindled into furious anger. He hastened to find Nathanael, and
upbraided him in harsh words for his irrational behaviour towards his
beloved sister. The fiery Nathanael answered him in the same style. "A
fantastic, crack-brained fool," was retaliated with, "A miserable,
common, everyday sort of fellow." A meeting was the inevitable
consequence. They agreed to meet on the following morning behind the
garden-wall, and fight, according to the custom of the students of the
place, with sharp rapiers. They went about silent and gloomy; Clara
had both heard and seen the violent quarrel, and also observed the
fencing-master bring the rapiers in the dusk of the evening. She had a
presentiment of what was to happen. They both appeared at the appointed
place wrapped up in the same gloomy silence, and threw off their coats.
Their eyes flaming with the bloodthirsty light of pugnacity, they were
about to begin their contest when Clara burst through the garden door.
Sobbing, she screamed, "You savage, terrible men! Cut me down before
you attack each other; for how can I live when my lover has slain my
brother, or my brother slain my lover?" Lothair let his weapon fall and
gazed silently upon the ground, whilst Nathanael's heart was rent with
sorrow, and all the affection which he had felt for his lovely Clara in
the happiest days of her golden youth was awakened within him. His
murderous weapon, too, fell from his hand; he threw himself at Clara's
feet. "Oh! can you ever forgive me, my only, my dearly loved Clara? Can
you, my dear brother Lothair, also forgive me?" Lothair was touched by
his friend's great distress; the three young people embraced each other
amidst endles