If you speak, Gretchen will be
Gretchen no more. Yes, the King seeks Gretchen; but will you drive her
away from her only haven?" with a choking sound.
"Gretchen, trust me. Shall I go to-morrow? Shall I leave you in
peace?" Somehow I believed myself to be in danger. "Speak!"
There was an interval of stillness, broken only by the beating of
hearts. Then:
"Stay. But speak no word of love; it is not for such as I. Stay and
be my friend, for I need one. Cannot a woman look with favor upon a
man but he must needs become her lover? I shall trust you as I have
trusted other men. And though you fail me in the end, as others have
done, still I shall trust you. Herr, I conspire against the King. For
what? The possession of my heart. All my life I have stood alone, so
alone."
"I will be your friend, Gretchen; I will speak no word of love. Will
that suffice?"
"It is all I ask, dear friend. And now will you leave me?"
"Leave you?" I cried. "I thought you bade me stay?"
"Ah," putting out her hand; "you men do not understand. Sometimes a
woman wishes to be alone when--when she feels that she--she cannot hold
back her tears!"
Gravely I bent over her hand and kissed it.
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