The old woman did not speak, but it seemed to Lena as if she would like it. So she went and knelt down and lit a fire. When she came back to the bed, the old woman smiled contentedly and said: "Yes, Lena, it is hot. But you know, I always want to see it. And when I do not see it, I think everything is gone and there is not a spark of life left. And there is so much trouble here...." And she pointed to her breast and heart. "Ah, mother, you are always thinking about dying. And yet it has passed away so many times already." "Yes, child, it has passed away often, but it must come sometime and at seventy it may come any day. I wish you would open the other window too, so that there will be more air and the fire will burn better. Just look, it isn't burning well, it smokes so ..." "The sun does that, it is shining right on it...." "And then give me the green drops that Frau Doerr brought me. They always help me a little." Lena did as she was asked and when the sick woman had taken the drops, she really seemed to be a little better and easier around her heart. She propped herself up with her hands and raised herself higher, and when Lena had put another cushion behind her back, she said: "Has Franke been here lately?" "Yes, he was here early to-day. He always stops to inquire before he goes to the factory." "He is a very good man." "Yes, he is that." "And about the Conventiclers...." "It may not be so bad. And I almost believe that he gets his good principles from them. Do you believe so?" The old woman smiled. "No, Lena, they come from the good God. And one has them and another has not. I don't believe very much in learning and training.... And has not he said anything yet?" "Yes, yesterday evening." "And how did you answer him?" "I told him that I would accept him, because I thought he was an honorable and trustworthy man, who would not only take care of me, but of you too...." The old woman nodded her approval. "And," Lena went on, "when I had told him that, he took my hand and exclaimed cheerfully: 'So then, Lena, it is all settled!' But I shook my head and said, not quite so fast, because I still had something to confess to him. And when he asked what it was, I told him that I had had two love affairs: First ... there, mother, you know all about it ... and the first I liked very much and the other I loved dearly and still cared for him. But he was now happily married and I had never seen him again but just once, and I did not want to see him again. But, since he was so good and kind to us, I felt obliged to tell him everything, because I would not deceive anyone, and certainly not him...." "My Lord, my Lord," whimpered the old woman, while Lena was speaking. "And directly afterwards he got up and went back to his own rooms. But I could see plainly that he was not angry. Only he would not let me go to the door with him as usual."