‘Stay, for God’s sake, for an instant,’ I cried in an involuntary
outburst. I didn’t know what I was saying and could scarcely stand
upright. ‘For God’s sake … it is too cruel!’
She glanced at me.
‘To-morrow, to-morrow evening,’ she said, ‘not to-day, I beseech
you--go away to-day … to-morrow evening come to the garden gate, near
the lake. I will be there, I will come.… I swear to you I will come,’
she added with passion, and her eyes shone; ‘whoever may hinder me, I
swear! I will tell you everything, only let me go to-day.’
And before I could utter a word she was gone. Utterly distraught, I
stayed where I was. My head was in a whirl. Across the mad rapture,
which filled my whole being, there began to steal a feeling of
apprehension.… I looked round. The dim, damp room in which I was
standing oppressed me with its low roof and dark walls.
I went out and walked with dejected steps towards the house. Vera was
waiting for me on the terrace; she went into the house directly I drew
near, and at once retreated to her bedroom.