[Pause; aside.]

It is so still.  I must keep on talking, otherwise he can hear me breathing, and will notice my anxiety—­and also that he may not hear Mary when she climbs in at the window.

[Listening repeatedly.]

The whole evening I have been thinking about it.  Only yesterday Robert said to me—­

FORESTER.

Always Robert—­

SOPHY (has seated herself by his side).

We were walking along the willows, where the pine-thicket is, under the rock, in the Dell—­

FORESTER (violently).

Don’t mention that—­

SOPHY.

How you start!  It was at sunset; and as I looked around, something was coming out from under the pines—­so red.  I—­frightened—­For God’s sake, I say, why, that is blood!

[FORESTER throws down his spoon and rises.]

SOPHY.

Then the evening glow was reflected in the water.—­But what is the matter with you?

FORESTER.

Always with your Dell.  What do you care about the Dell?

SOPHY.

Did something happen to you there?  People say the place is haunted. 
Robert said so to me yesterday.  They say that there is an accursed spot! 
There some one committed a murd—­

FORESTER (seizes his gun).

What do you know?

SOPHY (recoiling in terror).

Ulrich!—­

FORESTER.

Will you keep quiet?

SOPHY (stops before him, shuddering, filled with a presentiment).

Ulrich!  What have you done?

FORESTER (has recovered his self-possession).

Stuff and nonsense!  Is this a night for such stories?

[Lost in thought.]

SOPHY.

Go ahead.  Whether an hour sooner, or an hour later.  You have me on your conscience.

[Sinks down upon a chair to the left.]

FORESTER (pause; then he walks slowly up and down, and gradually comes near her, hesitating).

I must tell you something, Sophy—­if you do not already know it; it will not let me rest.  I am in the right; but—­and then I cannot tell—­is it true or is it only an oppressive dream?—­a dream in which one cannot do what one wishes—­and exhausts oneself—­because one must always do what one does not wish.  Come here!  Do you hear?  Place your hand on the Bible.

SOPHY.

Great God!  What can be the meaning of this!

FORESTER.

It would be horrible if I had been obliged to kill her, and after all everything were only—­and then I should have in vain—­Sophy!

[Quite close to her; softly.]

There is a report that a corpse is lying in the Dell!

SOPHY.

You are drunk or mad!

FORESTER.

I am in my right mind.  Look at me, woman!  Do you believe in a God in Heaven?  Very well, Very well!  Then place your hand upon the Bible, right here.  There my right is written.  Now say after me:  “As truly as I hope to be saved—­”