Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/171

171

THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

contentment in her native city ; that he had no more
right to insist on the necessity of being an islander,
than she of being a town lady. If he felt that, even
at her side, he should pine with home-sickness in the
great world, how could he complain of her, if she were
to suffer from the same with him, on the hallig. These
reflections kept him silent. A deep melancholy lay
like a weight upon his heart. He became lost in
thoughts which now and then directed themselves to-
ward Maria, and awakened a feeling not unlike re-
morse.
  Oswald broke the embarrassing pause by raising his
glass to drink to their happy meeting in Hamburg.
Godber took up mechanically his glass, touched it to
Oswald's, but set it down without drinking.
  From this day there was a certain distance between
the lovers. Idalia was more serious, thoughtful, and
reserved, and, although she did not doubt that Godber
would give up his whim, still it was disagreeable to her
that he had ever conceived it, above all, that he should
not dismiss it at once, as soon as he perceived her dis-
inclination to this life. He, on the other hand, was
much grieved, but at the same time so submissive, so
attentive, so careful to show her the most entire devo-
tion, as if he still cherished a secret hope of inducing
her to make the sacrifice upon which the happiness of
his life depended. Both avoided making the slightest
allusion to the difference between them as to their
hopes of the future.
  The orphan Maria had, in the mean time, been re-
ceived into the pastor's family, and, in this way, was
brought nearer to Godber's house. They could not now