If
you appear before me within these three days with a good, well-fitting
shadow, you shall be welcome to me; but on the fourth day--I tell you
plainly--my daughter is the wife of another."
I would yet attempt to speak a word to Mina, but she clung, sobbing
violently, only closer to her mother's breast, who silently motioned
me to withdraw. I reeled away, and the world seemed to close itself
behind me.
Escaped from Bendel's affectionate oversight, I traversed in erring
course woods and fields. The perspiration of my agony dropped from my
brow, a hollow groaning convulsed my bosom, madness raged within me.
I know not how long this had continued, when, on a sunny heath, I felt
myself plucked by the sleeve. I stood still and looked round--it was
the man in the gray coat, who seemed to have run himself quite out of
breath in pursuit of me. He immediately began:
"I had announced myself for today, but you could not wait the time.
There is nothing amiss, however, yet. You consider the matter, receive
your shadow again in exchange, which is at your service, and turn
immediately back. You shall be welcome in the Forest-master's garden;
the whole has been only a joke. Rascal, who has betrayed you, and who
seeks the hand of your bride, I will take charge of; the fellow is
ripe."
I stood there as if in a dream. "Announced for today?" I counted over
again the time--he was right.
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