'If it were only true!' sobbed the poor lady. 'But it is all my fault--
oh, Greif, Greif--my boy--promise that you will not forsake me,
whatever happens to me!'

'Indeed, I promise,' answered Greif in great surprise. 'But what can
happen? What is it that you fear, mother?'

'Oh, I am very foolish,' she replied with a hysterical attempt at a
laugh. 'Perhaps it is nothing, after all.'

Her tears burst out afresh. Greif attempted in vain to soothe her,
calling her by endearing names he had never used to her before, and
feeling vaguely surprised at the expressions of affection that fell
from his lips. All at once, with a passionate movement, she threw her
arms round his neck and kissed him. Then, pushing him aside, she rose
quickly and fled to the next room before he could regain his feet.

For some moments he stood looking at the closed door. Then his instinct
told him that she would not return, and he slowly left the room,
pondering deeply on what he had seen and heard.

The next time they met she made no reference to what had passed, and
Greif's natural delicacy warned him not to approach the subject. Had
there been such previous intimacy between the two as might be expected
to exist between mother and son, an explanation could scarcely have
been avoided. As it was, however, both felt that it was better to leave
the matter alone. The bond between them was stronger than before, and
that was enough for Clara. She experienced a sense of comfort in
Greif's mere existence which somewhat lightened the intolerable burthen