ssible?--Lenz dead? Now, just when her heart was turning again to
him? and he has been always faithful to her. It cannot be--it is not
so." She sat down in the room, and said--"Why should my Lenz make away
with himself? What do you mean by saying such a thing?"

Faller made no answer.

"Can you only speak when no one wishes to hear you?" asked Annele,
passionately. "Sit down--sit down," said she, striving to control her
feelings, "and tell me what has happened."

As if wishing to punish Annele, by paying no attention to her words,
Faller continued standing, though his knees trembled. He glanced at her
with a look, so full of sorrow and bitter reproach, that Annele cast
down her eyes. "Who could wish to sit down by you?" said he at length.
"Where you are, there can be neither rest nor peace."

"I don't want any of your admonitions; you ought to be aware of that by
this time. If you know anything of my husband, let me hear it."

Faller now repeated the universal report, that Lenz had been trying to
borrow money in all directions, and also to get a certain sum to make
good the security he had given, for the purchase of Faller's house.
This was, however, no longer necessary, as Don Bastian had paid the
purchase-money for him this very day.

When Annele heard that, she started up, and her gestures seemed to
say--"So, he has deceived me, and told me downright lies. He is alive:
he must be alive--for he must live to expiate his sin; for he declared
that he had recalled his security. Only come home, liar and hypocrite!"

Annele left the room, and did not return till Faller was gone. All
remorse--all contrition had vanished. Lenz had told her a falsehood,
and he should repent it. "These watergruel, goodnatured people are all
alike; because they have not the spirit to lay hold of a thing
manfully, when necessary, they wish, in their turn, to be handled as
tenderly as an egg without a shell; do nothing to me, and I do nothing
to any one--refuse me nothing, I refuse nothing to any one, though it
brings me to beggary. This is his doctrine! Only come home, pitiful
milksop!"

Annele had no food warm at the fire for Lenz when he did come home.
There was, however, a warm reception awaiting him!

CHAPTER XXXII.
A STORMY NIGHT.

When Lenz left the Doctor to mount the hill, he was full of happy
confidence. Two paths were open to him--his uncle or the manufactory.