This motionlessness filled me with sadness on account of my folly of the preceding day, and oppressed me. I cautiously stepped up to her and remained standing in front of her, to see whether she would not raise her eyes; but she made no sign. Then I could not help falling upon my knees, and my eyes sought hers. Her transparent face, her half-closed eyes made no movement. Without a sound I got up from my knees and returned to my bench. Then she arose, walked slowly round the glowing white marble ring of the pool, and vanished in the shrubbery beyond, without my venturing to follow her. I remained at my place and recalled again and again to my eyes how she sat there at the edge of the water, could not be forced to lift up her countenance upon me, and still gave me so much happiness. Could I have endured more?--how she, noiselessly and gracefully waving the folds of her soft flowing garment, slowly glided about the fountain, like a fairy of old, and bestowed upon my last glance the never-failing comfort of beauty. Not until the hour of my duty at the boarding school drew near in the late afternoon did I drag myself away and forsake the park. I performed my duty according to my custom. As soon as duty was over on the following morning I found myself on the way to the city park. Suddenly I was aroused at hearing my name called. I looked up and saw Mariandel standing in her window, stared at her, and came to my senses, and felt the desiccating heat of the day. "Do you mean to run by again?" the girl asked in surprise. "I was thinking," I answered. "And yesterday you were thinking so hard that you did not even hear me call after you!--How you look!" she cried in sudden apprehension. "I do not know of anything. How do I?" "Worn out! Terribly! Have you been revelling all night?" "Revelling!" I murmured with a smile, and relapsed into my revery. "But what is the matter with you? Erwin!" "I don't sleep well." "Are you writing verses again all night long?" I shook my head. "And in what condition you come along here! You neither see nor hear anything!" I grew impatient and said, "I am thinking; excuse me!" and went on quickly, paying no more attention to what she called after me. I entered the gate of the park, and stopped. My eye took in the welcome sight of all the familiar things, the sparkling sandy paths, the silvery sheen of the grass, the dark shrubbery, the ragged umbelliform palms, the ceaselessly foaming gush of water, the feathery forest of bamboo, the blossoming of the giant trees--I breathed the heat-refined, insinuating air, heavy with perfume, and suddenly I felt my heart relieved, and delighted, and secure, as though I were entering my home.