"So you are surprised that she should accept me! I know I am not worthy of her, but I will try to deserve her. God is my witness that I will do my best; I will lay my head under her feet, and----" Lenz looking up at his mother's picture, said, "Good mother! dear loving mother! rejoice in the seventh heavens, for your son is happy." He could not say another word, for tears choked his voice, and he knelt before the picture. Pilgrim went up to him, and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Forgive me, dear Pilgrim," said Lenz. "I had resolved to be such a strong iron man! I am to have a wife who well deserves a strong-minded husband; but on this day I feel quite overcome--but for this day only. On the way here I thought to myself, I wish some one would come and impose on me a severe task--I don't know what--but something--something that I might put my whole heart in, and, however difficult, I would accomplish it. I will show that I deserve the happiness God has sent me. "Be quiet, do be quiet; other men besides you have got wives, and there is no occasion to turn the world upside down on that account." "Oh! if my mother had only lived to see this day!" "If your mother had lived, Annele would not have accepted you. You did not please her till you were quite alone, and without any mother." "Don't say that; how highly she honoured my mother!" "She finds it easy enough to do that, as she is no longer in the world, and I tell you that you are only in the world for Annele, since you have no mother." "You have not once even wished me joy yet." "I wish you joy--I wish you much joy." "Why do you say that twice over--why twice?" "Oh! it only chanced so." "No! you meant something by it" "It is true, I did. I will tell you what it was tomorrow, but not today." "Why tomorrow? I must hear it now, you must tell me now." "Remember you are now in a state of intoxication; how can I speak soberly to you?" "I am not intoxicated, I am perfectly sober." "Very well, then tell me how has this been so quickly brought about?" "I don't myself very well know; it came on me like an inspiration from heaven, and now it is plain enough to me, that for a long time past I have thought of nothing else." "I suspected as much, but I did think you would do nothing without me." "Nor will I; you must go with me tomorrow, to propose in due form on my behalf to her father." "So! I am glad of that, for then I hope the affair will soon be at an end." "What! do you wish to drive me crazy?" "No need for that; as yet she is neither your betrothed, nor your wife, So I may speak freely. Lenz, it would be an indiscretion were you now to draw back, but only an indiscretion; but if you marry Annele, you will do wrong during your whole life. Lenz, she is no wife for you." "You do not know her. You always teaze each other; but I know her inmost heart, and I know her to be thoroughly good and amiable."