The mother must sing for the sake of her child, though her heart be breaking. Lenz roused himself, and followed her into the chamber. "Annele." he said, "I have been out into the country; I wanted to be up and away from here. Yes, you may laugh; I knew you would." "I am not laughing. I had already thought it would be a good plan for you to go abroad for a year. Perhaps you would come back a wiser man, and all might be well again." It cut him to the heart to hear her urging him to leave her; but he only answered: "If I could not go abroad while I was happy, still less can I go with this miserable weight at my heart. I am nothing, and am good for nothing when my thoughts are not free and happy." "Now you do indeed make me laugh," said Annele; "so you can neither go abroad when you are happy nor when you are unhappy." "I do not understand you. I have never understood you, nor you me." "That is the worst of all, that there should be misery within as well as without." "Do away with it, then, and be kind and good." "Don't speak so loud; you will wake the child," answered Annele. As soon as the conversation took this turn, there was nothing more to be got from her. Lenz returned to the sitting-room, and when Annele followed him, and had gently closed the door, he said: "Now in our misfortune is the time to love and cherish each other. That comfort alone might still be left us; why will you refuse it?" "Love cannot be forced." "Then I must go away again." "And I shall stay at home," said Annele, indifferently; "I shall stay with my children." "They are as much mine as yours." "Of course," said Annele, in the same hard voice. "There is the clock beginning to play!" cried Lenz, in distress, "and that merry waltz too! I wish I might never hear another note. Oh, if one would but dash out these miserable brains that have lost all power to think! Can you not speak one kind word, Annele?" "I know of none." "Then I will. Let there be peace between us, and all will be well." "I am willing." "Can you not throw your arms about my neck and say you are glad to have me back again?" "No; but to-morrow perhaps." "And if I should die to-night?" "Then I should be a widow." "And marry some one else?" "If any one would have me." "You will drive me mad!" "It would not take much to do that." "Annele!!" "That is my name." "What is to be the end of this?" "God knows." "Annele! Is it true that we were once so happy together?" "I suppose it must be." "And can we never be again?" "I do not know." "Why do you answer me so?" "Because you ask me such questions." Lenz buried his face in his hands, and remained in that attitude through almost the entire night.