“The present is not a time,” the Major answered, in the same low tone as that in which Charlotte had spoken, for fear lest she might disturb Ottilie; “this is not a time, and this is not a place for reserve.  The condition in which I find you is so fearful that even the earnest matter on which I am here loses its importance by the side of it.”  He then informed her, quite calmly and simply, of the object of his mission, in so far as he was the ambassador of Edward; of the object of his coming, in so far as his own free will and his own interests were concerned in it.  He laid both before her, delicately but uprightly; Charlotte listened quietly, and showed neither surprise nor unwillingness.

As soon as the Major had finished, she replied, in a voice so light that to catch her words he was obliged to draw his chair closer to her:  “In such a case as this I have never before found myself; but in similar cases I have always said to myself, how will it be tomorrow?  I feel very clearly that the fate of many persons is now in my hands, and what I have to do is soon said without scruple or hesitation.  I consent to the separation; I ought to have made up my mind to it before; by my unwillingness and reluctance I have destroyed my child.  There are certain things on which destiny obstinately insists.  In vain may reason, may virtue, may duty, may all holy feelings place themselves in its way.  Something shall be done which to it seems good, and which to us seems not good; and it forces its own way through at last, let us conduct ourselves as we will.

“And, indeed, what am I saying?  It is but my own desire, my own purpose, against which I acted so unthinkingly, which destiny is again bringing in my way?  Did I not long ago, in my thoughts, design Edward and Ottilie for each other?  Did I not myself labor to bring them together?  And you, my friend, you yourself were an accomplice in my plot.  Why, why, could I not distinguish mere man’s obstinacy from real love?  Why did I accept his hand, when I could have made him happy as a friend, and when another could have made him happy as a wife?  And now, look here on this unhappy slumberer.  I tremble for the moment when she will recover out of this half death-sleep into consciousness.  How can she endure to live?  How shall she ever console herself, if she may not hope to make good that to Edward, of which, as the instrument of the most wonderful destiny, she has deprived him?  And she can make it all good again by the passion, by the devotion with which she loves him.  If love be able to bear all things, it is able to do yet more; it can restore all things; of myself at such a moment I may not think.

“Do you go quietly away, my dear Major; say to Edward that I consent to the separation; that I leave it to him, to you, and to Mittler, to settle whatever is to be done.  I have no anxiety for my own future condition; it may be what it will; it is nothing to me.  I will subscribe whatever paper is submitted to me, only he must not require me to join actively.  I cannot have to think about it, or give advice.”