During this time Charlotte persisted with all her heart in what she had determined for herself, and her friend stood by her with a like purpose, manfully.  This very circumstance, however, produced a greater intimacy between them.  They spoke openly to each other of Edward’s passion, and consulted what had better be done.  Charlotte kept Ottilie more about herself, watching her narrowly; and the more she understood her own heart, the deeper she was able to penetrate into the heart of the poor girl.  She saw no help for it, except in sending her away.

It now appeared a happy thing to her that Luciana had gained such high honors at the school; for her great aunt, as soon as she heard of it, desired to take her entirely to herself, to keep her with her, and bring her out into the world.  Ottilie could, therefore, return thither.  The Captain would leave them well provided for, and everything would be as it had been a few months before; indeed, in many respects better.  Her own position in Edward’s affection, Charlotte thought, she could soon recover; and she settled it all, and laid it all out before herself so sensibly that she only strengthened herself more completely in her delusion, as if it were possible for them to return within their old limits—­as if a bond which had been violently broken could again be joined together as before.

In the meantime Edward felt very deeply the hindrances which were thrown in his way.  He soon observed that they were keeping him and Ottilie separate; that they made it difficult for him to speak with her alone, or even to approach her, except in the presence of others.  And while he was angry about this, he was angry at many things besides.  If he caught an opportunity for a few hasty words with Ottilie, it was not only to assure her of his love, but to complain of his wife and of the Captain.  He never felt that with his own irrational haste he was on the way to exhaust the cash-box.  He found bitter fault with them, because in the execution of the work they were not keeping to the first agreement, and yet he had been himself a consenting party to the second; indeed, it was he who had occasioned it and made it necessary.

Hatred is a partisan, but love is even more so.  Ottilie also estranged herself from Charlotte and the Captain.  As Edward was complaining one day to Ottilie of the latter, saying that he was not treating him like a friend, or, under the circumstances, acting quite uprightly, she answered unthinkingly, “I have once or twice had a painful feeling that he was not quite honest with you.  I heard him say once to Charlotte:  ’If Edward would but spare us that eternal flute of his!  He can make nothing of it, and it is too disagreeable to listen to him.’  You may imagine how it hurt me, when I like accompanying you so much.”