She felt it, opened her eyes and looked upon me wonderingly.  The wonderful brightness of her eyes, which the half-closed eyelids covered as with a veil, shone like the lightning.  I looked around and at last saw that the moon had arisen in full splendor between two peaks opposite the castle, and brightened the lake and the village with its friendly smiles.  Never had I seen Nature, never had I seen her dear face so beautiful, never had such holy rest settled down upon my soul.  “Marie,” said I, “in this resplendent moment, let me, just as I am, confess my whole love.  Let us, while we feel so powerfully the nearness of the superearthly, unite our souls in a tie which can never again be broken.  Whatever love may be, Marie, I love you and I feel, Marie, you are mine for I am thine.”

I knelt before her, but ventured not to look into her eyes.  My lips touched her hand and I kissed it.  At this she withdrew her hand from me, slowly at first and then quickly and decidedly, and as I looked at her an expression of pain was on her face.  She was silent for a time, but at last she raised herself and said with a deep sigh: 

“Enough for to-day.  You have caused me pain, but it is my fault.  Close the window.  I feel a cold chill coming over me as if a strange hand were touching me.  Stay with me—­but no, you must go.  Farewell!  Sleep well!  Pray that the peace of God may abide with us.  We see each other again—­shall we not?  To-morrow evening I await you.”

Oh, where all at once had this heavenly rest flown?  I saw how she suffered, and all that, I could do was to quickly hurry away, summon the English lady and then go alone in the darkness of night to the village.  Long time I wandered back and forth about the lake, long my gaze strayed to the lighted window where I had just been.  Finally, the last light in the castle was extinguished.  The moon mounted higher and higher, and every pinnacle and projection and decoration on the lofty walls grew visible in the fairy-like illumination.  Here was I all alone in the silent night.  It seemed to me my brain had refused its office, for no thought came to an end and I only felt I was alone on this earth, that it contained no soul for me.  The earth was like a coffin, the black sky a funeral pall, and I scarcely knew whether I was living or had long been dead.  Then I suddenly looked up to the stars with their blinking eyes, which went their way so quietly—­and it seemed to me that they were only for the lighting and consolation of men, and then I thought of two heavenly stars which had risen in my dark heaven so unexpectedly, and a thanksgiving rang through my breast—­a thanksgiving for the love of my angel.

LAST MEMORY.