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ARIADNE. 53" Oh, my dear! Oh, my dear! Where isGod that he lets such things be ? " Icried inmy suffering, and raved and blasphemed, andknew not whatIsaid, but seemed to feel mjrvery heart-strings beingrent asunder.But she heard nothing, or, at least, she tookno notice; she was looking through the narrowpanes, as if her lover were to comeback to herfrom heaven.The boy, standing on the threshold, drew meback to hini." She is always Hke that," he said, very low." It is a pity he cannot see: it would servehim for fine verses."" Hush, " for the mercy of heaven. Can youjest?"I?— Jest?"ThenIfelt ashamed thatIhad hurt him withsuch a word, forIsawin his face what he felt."Forgive me, child,"Isaid humbly to him,asIfelt: " I, too, am madIthink.Mad!— who dares say any such word— who dares?— the clearest, purest, loftiest mind that everloved the sunhght of God's truth! Oh, she