"But I never thought of it," cried Wilhelm, grasping Paul's hand. "What put such an idea into your head?" "Then you are not in love with Malvine?" asked Paul obstinately. "No, I am not in love with Malvine, if you will have the answer in that precise form." "I thought as much, but I wished to have the answer from your own lips;" and as they walked, he continued, "Do you see, Wilhelm, if you had loved Malvine, I would have got out of your way; I would have submitted to fate without any struggle or opposition." "Have I been injudicious? Perhaps too intimate? Forgive me, Paul, if it is so. It happened quite unintentionally. I only thought of her as my friend's fiancee, and believed her also to be a friend of mine." "I don't mean that, Wilhelm; you have always behaved awfully well--with great tact, and all that. But you have not seen how it has been with Malvine; she is quite mad about you, especially since you have been free." "You imagine these things." "Be quiet, you impatient baby, and hear what I have to say. I believe it is not love Malvine has for you, but it only wants a word or a look from you to turn it into love. If she were convinced that you feel only as a friend for her, she would be contented to admire you from a distance, and begin to care a little more for an inferior specimen of mankind like myself." "I feel quite in despair about it. How could I be so blind, so stupid?" "Never mind; it is not all over yet. I know Malvine. She is a simple-minded girl, without a bit of sentiment in her, mentally and morally healthy. If she knew she had nothing to expect from you, I am perfectly certain that nothing would stand in the way of my happiness." "I will do whatever you wish--and first of all, I must put a stop to my visits there." "I must ask more from you than that, my poor Wilhelm. Merely staying away is too passive. You must act. I want you to talk to Malvine, and somehow explain to her that you don't love her." "How can I possibly do that?" cried Wilhelm, really startled. "I should have no right! If she laughed in my face and called me a fool and a lout, I should feel I deserved it." "You ought to know that she would not do that. I know I am asking a very unusual thing, and a very difficult thing, but I feel I can ask such a sacrifice from your friendship." As Wilhelm did not immediately answer, Paul said, seizing his hand: "Once more, Wilhelm, if you have any thought of Malvine, I will not stand in your way." "But, Paul--" "And perhaps I ought to wish it for you; Malvine is a good, dear girl, and will make the man who marries her happy all his life." "Don't say any more; I have already told you that she is sacred to me as your fiancee, and beside, I should have no claim on her, even if I did not know how you stand with regard to her." "Well, then, you must help me to reclaim her from her mistake. You alone can do it, and I am sure that later--very soon, in fact, she will be grateful to you."