But I could not accept the sacrifice.

I offered instead to help him to hang himself beside the river.

He is to think it over.  If he does not hang himself, he is to shoot himself.  I have lent him my father’s revolver.  How grateful he looked when he took it.

* * *

Next Day.

Why does Otto seem to avoid me?  Has he some secret sorrow that I cannot share?  To-day he moved his camp-stool to the other side of the meadow.  He was in the long grass behind an elderberry bush.  At first I did not see him.  I thought that he had hanged himself.  But he said no.  He had forgotten to get a rope.  He had tried, he said, to shoot himself.  But he had missed himself.

* * *

Five Days Later.

Otto and I are not to die.  We are to live; to live and love one another for ever!  We are going away, out into the world together!  How happy I am!

Otto and I are to flee together.

When Alexis comes we shall be gone; we shall be far away.

I have said to Otto that I will fly with him, and he has said yes.

I told him that we would go out into the world together; empty-handed we would fare forth together and defy the world.  I said that he should be my knight-errant, my paladin!

Otto said he would be it.

He has consented.  But he says we must not fare forth empty-handed.  I do not know why he thinks this, but he is firm, and I yield to my lord.  He is making all our preparations.

Each morning I bring to the meadow a little bundle of my things and give them to my knight-errant and he takes them to the inn where he is staying.

Last week I brought my jewel-case, and yesterday, at his request, I took my money from the bank and brought it to my paladin.  It will be so safe with him.

To-day he said that I shall need some little things to remember my father and mother by when we are gone.  So I am to take my father’s gold watch while he is asleep.  My hero!  How thoughtful he is of my happiness.

* * *

Next Day.

All is ready.  To-morrow I am to meet Otto at the meadow with the watch and the rest of the things.

To-morrow night we are to flee together.  I am to go down to the little gate at the foot of the garden, and Otto will be there.

To-day I have wandered about the house and garden and have said good-bye.  I have said good-bye to my Tchupvskja flower, and to the birds and the bees.

To-morrow it will be all over.

* * *

Next Evening.

How can I write what has happened!  My soul is shattered to its depths.

All that I dreaded most has happened.  How can I live!

Alexis has come back.  He and Otto have fought.

Ah God! it has been terrible.

I stood with Otto in the meadow.  I had brought him the watch, and I gave it to him, and all my love and my life with it.