On Christmas
  Eve you will hold this paper in your hand ； you will tremble ， and moisten
  it with your tears. I will—— I must ！ Oh ， how happy I feel to be
  determined！"
  In the meantime ， Charlotte was in a pitiable state of mind. After
  her last conversation with Werther， she found how painful to herself
  it would be to decline his visits ， and knew how severely he would suffer
  from their separation.
  She had ， in conversation with Albert， mentioned casually that Werther
  would not return before Christmas Eve ； and soon afterward Albert went
  on horseback to see a person in the neighbourhood ， with whom he had
  to transact some business which would detain him all night.
  Charlotte was sitting alone. None of her family were near ， and she
  gave herself up to the reflections that silently took possession of her
  mind. She was for ever united to a husband whose love and fidelity she
  had proved， to whom she was heartily devoted ， and who seemed to be
  a special gift from Heaven to ensure her happiness. On the other hand ，
  Werther had become dear to her. There was a cordial unanimity of sentiment
  between them from the very first hour of their acquaintance ， and their
  long association and repeated interviews had made an indelible impression
  upon her heart. She had been accustomed to communicate to him every thought
  and feeling which interested her， and his absence threatened to open
  a void in her existence which it might be impossible to fill. How heartily
  she wished that she might change him into her brother ，—— that she
  could induce him to marry one of her own friends， or could reestablish
  his intimacy with Albert.
  She passed all her intimate friends in review before her mind ， but
  found something objectionable in each ， and could decide upon none to
  whom she would consent to give him.
  Amid all these considerations she felt deeply but indistinctly that
  her own real but unexpressed wish was to retain him for herself ， and
  her pure and amiable heart felt from this thought a sense of oppression
  which seemed to forbid a prospect of happiness. She was wretched： a dark
  cloud obscured her mental vision.
  It was now half-past six o'clock， and she heard Werther's step on
  the stairs. She at once recognised his voice， as he inquired if she were
  at home. Her heart beat audibly —— we could almost say for the first
  time—— at his arrival. It was too late to deny herself； and， as he
  entered ， she exclaimed， with a sort of ill concealed confusion ， "You
  have not kept your word ！" "I promised nothing ，" he answered. "But
  you should have complied， at least for my sake ，" she continued. " I
  implore you ， for both our sakes."
  She scarcely knew what she said or did； and sent for some friends，
  who ， by their presence， might prevent her being left alone with Werther.
  He put down some books he had brought with him， then made inquiries about
  some others ， until she began to hope that her friends might arrive shortly，
  entertaining at the same time a desire that they might stay away.
  At one moment she felt anxious that the servant should remain in the
  adjoining room， then she changed her mind. Werther ， meanwhile， walked
  impatiently up and down. She went to the piano， and determined not to
  retire. She then collected her thoughts ， and sat down quietly at Werther's
  side， who had taken his usual place on the sofa.
  "Have you brought nothing to read ？" she inquired. He had nothing.
  "There in my drawer ，" she continued ， "you will find your own translation
  of some of the songs of Ossian. I have not yet read them， as I have still
  hoped to hear you recite them ； but， for some time past ， I have not
  been able to accomplish such a wish." He smiled ， and went for the manuscript，
  which he took with a shudder. He sat down ； and， with eyes full of tears，
  he began to read.
  "Star of descending night ！