I was pondering over these pages when Gretel entered. She had never come so early. I was surprised, astonished. She remained a moment on the threshold, and I gazed at her without greeting her. Then she smiled and approached me. In her hand she carried a bouquet of fresh flowers. Then, without speaking, she laid them on my desk. In the next moment she seized the withered stems in the green vase. It seemed as if someone had grasped my heart, but I could not make a sound. And when I wanted to rise and take her by the arm, she smiled at me. Holding the faded flowers high above her, she hurried to the window and threw them out into the street. I felt I wanted to throw myself after them; but Gretel stood at the sill, facing me. And on her head was the sunshine, the bright sunshine. And the aroma of lilacs came in through the window. And I looked at the empty, green vase on my desk. I am not sure, yet I think I felt freer — yes, freer. Then Gretel approached me, picked up her bouquet, and held in front of my face cool, white lilacs. Such a healthy, fresh perfume — so soft, so cool. I wanted to bury my face in them. Laughing, white, beautiful flowers — and I felt that the specter was gone. Gretel stood behind me and ran her hands through my hair. "You silly boy," she said. Did she know what she had done? I grasped her hands and kissed her. In the evening we went out into the open, into the spring. We have just returned! I have lit my candle. We took a long walk, and Gretel is so tired that she has fallen asleep in the chair. She is very beautiful when she smiles thus in her sleep.