"Still," she said, to soothe the wound; "still, this is not to be my final judgment about Doctor Stein; it is nothing but a first impression. I shall probably think differently about him when I see him more frequently. Franz is so very fond of him, and, you know, we girls when we are engaged are apt to be jealous. But I just remember, he may be here every moment!" she cried, interrupting herself. "Who?" said Helen, "Oswald?" "I had really quite forgotten it. Thoughtless girl that I am!" "What is it?" "Stein and Franz had agreed to hear a lecture by Professor Benseler together. And Franz went directly after dinner to see a patient of father's in the country. I was to have sent word to Stein. I wonder if it is time yet?" "It is half-past five now," said Helen, stepping to the window to look at her watch. "It is almost dark and I must make haste to get home." At that moment there came a knock at the door. "There he is!" cried the two young ladies _unisono_, trembling like a couple of deer when a shot is fired in the wood. Another knock. "What shall we do?" whispered Helen, who seemed to have lost all her self-control. "Of course we must say: 'Walk in!' What else can we do?" replied Sophie, laughing involuntarily. "Walk in!" The person who entered was probably unable to recognize the ladies in the half-dark room; he remained standing near the door, as if he hesitated. "Come nearer, doctor," said Sophie, holding Helen's hands. "I must ask your pardon for receiving you in the dark; but we will have light directly." Oswald had approached her as she said these words, and had bowed to the ladies. Evidently he had not yet recognized Helen, who stood aside, looking towards the window. "I have to ask pardon," he said, "for I fear I have interrupted the ladies. But as I found nobody in the hall----" Suddenly he stopped; the blood rushed to his heart. He shuddered all over. Was not the silent figure by Miss Roban, Helen? He approached a little nearer. There was no doubt; that head whose outline he had so often admired almost reverently, could belong to no one but Helen ... He hardly heard Sophie say "You do not recognize Fräulein von Grenwitz; I will go myself to order lights." He heard the door close behind Miss Roban; he only knew that he was alone with her. He knelt down before her and seized her hand to cover it with burning kisses. The surprise and the darkness favored Oswald's boldness. Helen trembled so violently that she could not prevent him; she had barely strength enough to say: "For God's sake, Oswald, get up! I pray you, get up!" It was high time, for at that moment Sophie returned, followed by a servant who brought a lamp. Oswald succeeded in checking his emotion. Helen turned to the window, under the pretext that the sudden light was dazzling her eyes, and looked down upon the street, while Sophie explained Franz's absence.