the castle; he stood under Ottilie’s window.  He threw himself down on the steps of the terrace below.  “Walls and bolts,” he said to himself, “may still divide us, but our hearts are not divided.  If she were here before me, into my arms she would fall, and I into hers; and what can one desire but that sweet certainty!” All was stillness round him; not a breath was moving;—­so still it was, that he could hear the unresting creatures underground at their work, to whom day or night are alike.  He abandoned himself to his delicious dreams; at last he fell asleep, and did not wake till the sun with his royal beams was mounting up in the sky and scattering the early mists.

He found himself the first person awake on his domain.  The laborers seemed to be staying away too long:  they came; he thought they were too few, and the work set out for the day too slight for his desires.  He inquired for more workmen; they were promised, and in the course of the day they came.  But these, too, were not enough for him to carry his plans out as rapidly as he wished.  To do the work gave him no pleasure any longer; it should all be done.  And for whom?  The paths should be gravelled that Ottilie might walk presently upon them; seats should be made at every spot and corner that Ottilie might rest on them.  The new park house was hurried forward.  It should be finished for Ottilie’s birthday.  In all he thought and all he did, there was no more moderation.  The sense of loving and of being loved, urged him out into the unlimited.  How changed was now to him the look of all the rooms, their furniture, and their decorations!  He did not feel as if he was in his own house any more.  Ottilie’s presence absorbed everything.  He was utterly lost in her; no other thought ever rose before him; no conscience disturbed him; every restraint which had been laid upon his nature burst loose.  His whole being centered upon Ottilie.  This impetuosity of passion did not escape the Captain, who longed, if he could, to prevent its evil consequences.  All those plans which were now being hurried on with this immoderate speed, had been drawn out and calculated for a long, quiet, easy execution.  The sale of the farm had been completed; the first instalment had been paid.  Charlotte, according to the arrangement, had taken possession of it.  But the very first week after, she found it more than usually necessary to exercise patience and resolution, and to keep her eye on what was being done.  In the present hasty style of proceeding, the money which had been set apart for the purpose would not go far.

Much had been begun, and much yet remained to be done.  How could the Captain leave Charlotte in such a situation?  They consulted together, and agreed that it would be better that they themselves should hurry on the works, and for this purpose employ money which could be made good again at the period fixed for the discharge of the second instalment of what was to be paid for the farm.  It could be done almost without loss.  They would have a freer hand.  Everything would progress simultaneously.  There were laborers enough at hand, and they could get more accomplished at once, and arrive swiftly and surely at their aim.  Edward gladly gave his consent to a plan which so entirely coincided with his own views.