He stood still, and his conscience smote him. He said to himself: "Annele, good Annele! I have sinned in thought today in every way. My parents in heaven will not forgive me if that ever occurs again. But from this day we shall commence a new union."
With this feeling of indignation against himself, and in the joyful security that all would soon be on a more pleasant footing at home, he entered the house. "Where is my wife?" said he, finding the children sitting in the kitchen with the maid.
Lenz hurried to his wife. "God be with you, Annele! I say good morning and good evening together, for I forgot it when I left you so early today; and I wish you all happiness, and myself too. Please God, from this day forth, all will go well with us!"
"No; only tired--very tired. I will rise immediately, however."
"No; stay where you are, if it rests you. I have good news to give you."
"I don't choose to lie here. Go away, and I will come to you presently."
"But first listen to what I have got to say."
"Plenty of time for that; a few minutes can't make much difference."
All Lenz's lightness of heart seemed to vanish; but he controlled his feelings, and went out and caressed the children. At last Annele came. "Do you want anything to eat?" said she.
"Faller brought it. I suppose you gave it to him to bring to me."
"Why should I do that? The wind carried it off my head." He related briefly his interview with Kathrine. Annele was silent: she was carefully hoarding up the arrow with the lie about Faller's security--the time will soon come when she can send it flying at his head. She can wait.
Lenz sent the maid into the kitchen, and taking his boy on his knee, he told Annele honestly everything, with one exception--the faithless thoughts he had entertained towards her. And Annele said: "Do you know the only reality in all that?"
"The hundred gulden and three crown dollars old Franzl offered you. All the rest is stuff."
"Because your uncle will never help you. I suppose you will own now, that you should not have helped him to slip through our fingers as to his intentions towards you, this day five years?"
"But the proposal about the manufactory?"
"I know of no one at this moment but Pröbler; and it is true he has made many useful discoveries in his life."