"She replied that she should never separate herself from a community in which she had found her soul's eternal salvation. "My heart seemed to be pierced and torn; was it possible that she, in whom I had found the delight of my life, was lost to me? Was it credible that now we parted coldly and distantly? "It had become late; I descended the dark staircase of the house, when I heard a merry, childish voice, and touched a nurse's dress in passing. "'The little Salden?' asked I. "'Yes, my Herr,' was the reply. "I stroked the hair and cheeks of the little one, who seemed to nestle against her companion in alarm. "'Do not be afraid,' said I, 'go play with your dolls; it is the same game that the saints indulge in with theirs.' "As I descended the stairs still farther, I heard above me another surreptitious chuckle, followed by cheerful laughter. "During a sleepless night, the late occurrences impressed themselves with glowing characters into my soul--the intoxication of bliss, and the anguish of renunciation--and hastening down from a brightly-illumined hill, I followed a woman wandering through chasms from one dark abyss to another; her tattered robe caught on every thorn, but her beautiful form gleamed from the depths below. "Two days passed away in agonising excitement; I hoped Paulina in the meantime would have found leisure for calmer consideration; I, myself, adhered firmly to my given word, although I was aware that in the circle of my relatives who disapproved of my intercourse with the saints, of my connection with that beautiful woman, who was known to be one of the most zealous adherents of the much-abused creed, much annoyance would be caused, yes, that my father would perhaps refuse his consent altogether. "Once more I visited the woman of what was truly my first love. I repeated my offer. "She was friendly as ever, and welcomed me with the pious greeting of the community, and then said-- "'We will remain friends; I have spoken to him, the holy, the pure man; I have seen him with my eyes, he has taken me to his heart, he will teach and sanctify me, for he has pity upon my weakness. Then, however, I am to occupy a high position in the congregation; he recognises that in my inner being lies all that must call me to be a child of light.' "She uttered it cheerfully, almost triumphantly, but I saw that this woman was lost to me for ever! I parted from her in despair. "Since then I have never seen her again. "When the secular powers interfered in the secrets of the new faith, when the leading preachers were summoned before the law, then the public voice spoke a verdict of condemnation upon all who belonged to that circle.