She wasted no time in preliminaries, but inquired coldly why he had not visited her of late: before he could answer, she said in a sarcastic tone, "I thought we had been friends, young sir." At this Gerard looked the picture of doubt and consternation.
"It is because you never told her you were in love," said Reicht Heynes, pitying his confusion.
"Silence, wench! Why should he tell us his affairs?
We are not his friends: we have not deserved his confidence." "Alas! my second mother," said Gerard, "I did not dare to tell you my folly." "What folly?
Is it folly to love ?" "I am told so every day of my life." "You need not have been afraid to tell my mistress; she is always kind to true lovers." "Madam--Reicht I was afraid because I was told..." "Well, you were told-- ?" "That in your youth you scorned love, preferring art." "I did, boy; and what is the end of it?
Behold me here a barren stock, while the women of my youth have a troop of children at their side, and grandchildren at their knee I gave up the sweet joys of wifehood and motherhood for what?
For my dear brothers.

They have gone and left me long ago.

For my art.

It has all but left me too.

I have the knowledge still, but what avails that when the hand trembles.