drink more than I absolutely must. Bear with me and let me alone, and so
help me on through the time; I am young, and youth has many unexpected
means of restoring itself. Endure my presence among you; cheer me with
your love; make me wiser and better with what you say to one another:
but leave me to my own inward self."

The two friends had made all preparation for their journey, but their
departure was still delayed by the formalities of the foreign
appointment of the Major, a delay most welcome to Edward. Ottilie's
letter had roused all his eagerness again; he had gathered hope and
comfort from her words, and now felt himself encouraged and justified in
remaining and waiting. He declared, therefore, that he would not go; it
would be folly, indeed, he cried, of his own accord, to throw away, by
over precipitateness, what was most valuable and most necessary to him,
when although there was a danger of losing it, there was nevertheless a
chance that it might be preserved. "What is the right name of conduct
such as that?" he said. "It is only that we desire to show that we are
able to will and to choose. I myself, under the influences of the same
ridiculous folly, have torn myself away, days before there was any
necessity for it, from my friends, merely that I might not be forced to
go by the definite expiration of my term. This time I will stay: what
reason is there for my going; is she not already removed far enough from
me? I am not likely now to catch her hand or press her to my heart; I
could not even think of it without a shudder. She has not separated
herself from me; she has raised herself far above me."

And so he remained as he desired, as he was obliged; but he was never
easy except when he found himself with Ottilie. She, too, had the same
feeling with him; she could not tear herself away from the same happy
necessity. On all sides they exerted an indescribable, almost magical
power of attraction over each other. Living, as they were, under one
roof, without even so much as thinking of each other, although they
might be occupied with other things, or diverted this way or that way by
the other members of the party, they always drew together. If they were
in the same room, in a short time they were sure to be either standing
or sitting near each other; they were only easy when as close together
as they could be, but they were then completely happy. To be near was
enough; there was no need for them either to loo