ting down the candle,
she went away.

In misery and wretchedness, Edward flung himself down on the threshold
of the door which divided him from Ottilie, moistening it with his tears
as he lay. A more unhappy night had been seldom passed by two lovers in
such close neighborhood!

Day came at last. The coachman brought round the carriage, and the
hostess unlocked the door and went in. Ottilie was asleep in her
clothes; she went back and beckoned to Edward with a significant smile.
They both entered and stood before her as she lay; but the sight was too
much for Edward. He could not bear it. She was sleeping so quietly that
the hostess did not like to disturb her, but sat down opposite her,
waiting till she woke. At last Ottilie opened her beautiful eyes, and
raised herself on her feet. She declined taking any breakfast, and then
Edward went in again and stood before her. He entreated her to speak but
one word to him; to tell him what she desired. He would do it, be it
what it would, he swore to her; but she remained silent. He asked her
once more, passionately and tenderly, whether she would be his. With
downcast eyes, and with the deepest tenderness of manner she shook her
head in a gentle _No_. He asked if she still desired to go to the
school. Without any show of feeling she declined. Would she then go back
to Charlotte? She inclined her head in token of assent, with a look of
comfort and relief. He went to the window to give directions to the
coachman, and when his back was turned she darted like lightning out of
the room, and was down the stairs and in the carriage in an instant. The
coachman drove back along the road which he had come the day before, and
Edward followed at some distance on horseback.

CHAPTER XVII

It was with the utmost surprise that Charlotte saw the carriage drive up
with Ottilie, and Edward at the same moment ride into the court-yard of
the castle. She ran down to the hall. Ottilie alighted, and approached
her and Edward. Violently and eagerly she caught the hands of the wife
and husband, pressed them together, and hurried off to her own room.
Edward threw himself on Charlotte's neck and burst into tears. He could
not give her any explanation; he besought her to have patience with him,
and to go at once to see Ottilie. Charlotte followed her to her room,
and she could not enter it without a shudder. It had been all cleared
out. There was nothing to be seen but the empty walls, which