"Don't stand, don't stand! No, you mustn't! You're hurt! Sit down--here,
here!"
She made me sit on a sofa, and put her hand on my forehead.
"How hot your head is," she said, sinking on her knees by me. Then she
laid her head against me, and I heard her murmur: "My darling, how hot
your head is!"
Somehow love gives even to a dull man the knowledge of his lover's
heart. I had come to humble myself and pray pardon for my presumption;
but what I said now was:
"I love you with all my heart and soul!"
For what troubled and shamed her? Not her love for me, but the fear that
I had counterfeited the lover as I had acted the King, and taken her
kisses with a smothered smile.
"With all my life and heart," said I, as she clung to me. "Always, from
the first moment I saw you in the Cathedral! There has been but one
woman in the world to me--and there will be no other. But God forgive me
the wrong I've done you!"
"They made you do it!" she said quickly; and she added, raising her head
and looking in my eyes: "It might have made no difference if I'd known
it. It was always you, never the King!"
"I meant to tell you," said I. "I was going to on the night of the
ball in Strelsau, when Sapt interrupted me. After that, I couldn't--I
couldn't risk losing you before--before--I must! My darling, for you I
nearly left the King to die!"
"I know, I know! What are we to do now, Rudolf?"
I put my arm round her and held her up while I said:
"I am going away tonight.
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