Maria loved me first, and what she is, and was, and ever will be to me, she shall know before I go." He returned to his room at twilight, asked the manservant to carry his knapsack to Captain Van Duivenvoorde at the Hohenort Gate, and then went, with his little book in his doublet, to the main building to take leave of Maria.

He ascended the staircase slowly and paused in the upper entry.
The beating of his heart almost stopped his breath.

He did not know at which door to knock, and a torturing dread overpowered him, so that he stood for several minutes as if paralyzed.

Then he summoned up his courage, shook himself, and muttered: "Have I become a coward!" With these words he opened the door leading into the dining-room and entered.
Adrian was sitting at the empty table, beside a burning torch, with some books.

Georg asked for his mother.
"She is probably spinning in her room," replied the boy.
"Call her, I have something important to tell her." Adrian went away, returning with the answer that the Junker might wait in his father's study.
"Where is Barbara ?" asked Georg.
"With Bessie." The German nodded, and while pacing up and down beside the dining-room, thought, "I can't go so.