"Yes, I asked her to kiss me good-bye, the which she did." "Ah, well!" said she, "you have kissed me too, at all events." At the strangeness and sweetness of that word, I saw where we had fallen; rose, and set her on her feet.
"This will never do," said I."This will never, never do.

O Catrine, Catrine!" Then there came a pause in which I was debarred from any speaking.

And then, "Go away to your bed," said I."Go away to your bed and leave me." She turned to obey me like a little child, and the next I knew of it, had stopped in the very doorway.
"Good night, Davie!" said she.
"And O, good night, my love!" I cried, with a great outbreak of my soul, and caught her to me again, so that it seemed I must have broken her.
The next moment I had thrust her from the room, shut to the door even with violence, and stood alone.
The milk was spilt now, the word was out and the truth told.

I had crept like an untrusty man into the poor maid's affections; she was in my hand like any frail, innocent thing to make or mar; and what weapon of defence was left me?
It seemed like a symbol that Heinoccius, my old protection, was now burned.

I repented, yet could not find it in my heart to blame myself for that great failure.