When I got home, I found my mother ill, dangerously ill. Smitten down suddenly, as if by an unseen hand. Father had wanted to send for me, but she wouldn’t let him, because of spoiling my pleasure. Imagine how I felt, when I heard that! I kept out of the way. I didn’t dare to touch her; I trembled. She thought it was just a child’s concern, and motioned me to go to her. When I went up to her slowly, she pulled me down and kissed my desecrated mouth. I gave way altogether, I wanted to confess to her. I wanted to tell her what I thought and felt: “_I’m_ to blame for your lying there like that.” I did so, too, but tears and sobs choked my words; she took father’s hand and said, looking at me so happily--“What a tender heart!” LEONARD. She’s well again now. I came to congratulate her, and--what do you think? CLARA. And what? LEONARD. To ask your father for your hand in marriage! CLARA. Ah! LEONARD. Isn’t that all right? CLARA. Right? It would be the death of me, if I were not soon your wife. But you don’t know my father. He doesn’t know why we’re in a hurry. He can’t know, and we can’t tell him. And he’s told me a hundred times that he will only give me, as he puts it, to a man who has both love in his heart and bread in his cupboard. He will say, “Wait a year or two, my son,” and then what will you answer? LEONARD. Why, you little silly, that difficulty’s all over. I’ve got the job, I’m cashier now. CLARA. You’re cashier? And what about the other candidate, the parson’s nephew? LEONARD. He came drunk into the exam., bowed to the stove instead of to the mayor, and knocked three cups off the table when he sat down. You know how hot-tempered the old boy is. “Sir!” he began, but he bit his lips and controlled himself, although his eyes flashed through his spectacles like two snakes ready to spring, and all his face was working. Then came the arithmetic and ha! ha! my opponent used a system of tables he had invented himself, and got quite original results. “He’s all astray,” said the mayor, and held out his hand to me with a glance that told me the job was mine. I put it reverently to my lips, although it stank of tobacco, and here’s the appointment, signed and sealed. CLARA. That’s a---- LEONARD. Surprise, eh? Well, it’s not altogether an accident. Why do you think I never turned up here for a whole fortnight? CLARA. How do I know. I should think because we quarrelled on that last Sunday. LEONARD. I was cunning enough to bring that little quarrel about on purpose, so that I might stay away without causing you too much surprise. CLARA. I don’t understand you. LEONARD.