With these words, he gave me his hand, looked at me affectionately in the
eyes, as if he would exact the promise, and then went on his way to look
after his sick children.

I was so astonished that another had penetrated so deeply into the
secrets of my soul, and that he knew what I did not know myself, that
when I recovered from it he had already been long upon the street. An
agitation began to seize me, as water, which has long been over the fire
without stirring, suddenly bubbles up, boils, heaves and rages until it
overflows.

Not see her again! I only live when I am with her. I will be calm; I
will not speak a word to her; I will only stand at her window as she
sleeps and dreams. But not to see her again! Not to take one farewell
from her! She knows not, they cannot know, that I love her. Surely I do
not love her--I desire nothing, I hope for nothing, my heart never beats
more quietly then when I am with her. But I must feel her presence--I
must breathe her spirit--I must go to her! She waits for me. Has
destiny thrown us together without design? Ought I not to be her
consolation, and ought she not to be my repose? Life is not a sport. It
does not force two souls together like the grains of sand in the desert,
which the sirocco whirls together and then asunder. We should hold fast
the souls which friendly fate leads to us, for they are destined for us,
and no power can tear them from us if we have the courage to live, to
struggle, and to die for them. She would despise me if I deserted her
love at the first roll of the thunder, as it were in the shadow of a
tree, under which I have dreamed so many happy hours.

Then I suddenly grew calm, and heard only the words "her love;" they