'You are miserable?'

'Ah, very! Could I have foreseen such a thing? All of a sudden, like
thunder from a clear sky ...'

She caught her breath.

'But what is it? Explain! Would you like a glass of water?'

'No, thank you.' Frau Lenore wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and
began to cry with renewed energy. 'I know all, you see! All!'

'All? that is to say?'

'Everything that took place to-day! And the cause ... I know that too!
You acted like an honourable man; but what an unfortunate combination
of circumstances! I was quite right in not liking that excursion to
Soden ... quite right!' (Frau Lenore had said nothing of the sort
on the day of the excursion, but she was convinced now that she had
foreseen 'all' even then.) 'I have come to you as to an honourable
man, as to a friend, though I only saw you for the first time five
days ago.... But you know I am a widow, a lonely woman.... My
daughter ...'

Tears choked Frau Lenore's voice. Sanin did not know what to think.
'Your daughter?' he repeated.

'My daughter, Gemma,' broke almost with a groan from Frau Lenore,
behind the tear-soaked handkerchief, 'informed me to-day that she
would not marry Herr Klueber, and that I must refuse him!'