She covered her face with her hands, as if to hide from the night
the burning blush of shame that mounted to her brow. Thus she sat
for hours motionless, as if listening to the voices whispering to
her from within, until the first gleam of morning, the first ray of
sun entered the open window to arouse her from her waking dreams.

She sprang from her bed, and dressed herself with trembling
eagerness. The sun had arisen, and Charles Henry was no doubt
already in the woods, at the place she had appointed to meet him
yesterday morning. When bidding him good-by, she had whispered to
him to meet her there in the morning at sunrise; she did not then
know why she had appointed this meeting. She well knew it was not
the longing to pass an undisturbed hour with her lover that had
actuated her. Anna had no such wish; her heart was too pure, her
love too cold. She had only felt that she would have something to
say to him; she knew not what herself.

But now she well knew what she had to say; it was all clear, and
therefore she was happy and cheerful. It seemed to her as if her
soul had taken flight, and as if there was a lark within her singing
songs of joy, and with these feelings she hastened down the road
into the woods.

At the appointed place stood Charles Henry, and as his betrothed
approached him, so proud, so smiling, sparkling with beauty and
youth, it appeared to him that he had never seen her so exquisitely
beautiful; to her, as he advanced smilingly to meet her, he had
never seemed so small, so devoid of attractions.