"You are more worthy than any man in the whole world--you are only too good; you have no idea of the wickedness of the world." "The world is not all evil, as you are in it. Now, tell me, is it also your wish, your honest wish?--Will you stand by me, and be my helper in joy and sorrow, and be good, and industrious,--and will you be my mother, my wife, and my all? Say yes--and I will be yours for life and death!" "Yes--a thousand times, yes!" She sank into his arms. "Mother, dear mother!" cried Lenz. The Landlady came in. "Forgive me," said he, "for my presumption!" "You have nothing but good to expect from me," said the Landlady; "but, children, I have one thing to beg of you. Annele can tell you who always spoke well of you, and always said, 'Lenz is sure to do well, for his mother's blessing rests on his head.' But I entreat of you to keep quiet; you don't know my husband as I do. All his children are wound round his heartstrings, and he is always vexed when one is taken from him. God be praised! if this event comes to pass; we shall have one child in our native place, and not estranged from us like the others." At these words the Landlady wept bitterly, but continued, after violently blowing her nose. "My husband must know nothing of it just at present. Let me, my children, prepare him for it by degrees, and I know well how to do it, and when you ought to make your proposals to him in due form; don't return to this house till then, and bring your uncle with you, for it is only proper that you should pay him the respect, to ask him to represent your father. Hitherto, my children have always entered families of note; we are accustomed to observe the same forms as the gentry. Lenz, God has given me no son of my own, and I must honestly say I am rejoiced that you are to become my son. I have a great regard for my other sons-in-law, but they are too genteel and too high for me. Now go, Lenz, for my husband may come in at any moment, and then who knows what might happen?--but stop, take this: give it to him, Annele." She opened the double doors of the huge press, and gave Annele a gold coin, saying, "Look! this is what your godfather, our worthy minister, placed in your cradle--an ancient coin; so it is quite suitable for the purpose: but, no--you must first give her a pledge." "I have nothing--but yes, I have. There, Annele! that is my watch, made by my deceased father in Switzerland, and he gave it to my mother; and on our marriage day, please God, I will give you something else of my mother's, which will please you. There, take the watch; hear how it ticks,--it has lain on my heart for many years. I only wish I could take out my heart, and entrust it to your faithful hands."