Part 14 (2/2)

They whispered together for a few moments, then Ludwig followed Christian up-stairs, and Johanna returned to the drawing-room.

With some hesitation she approached the Freiherr, who was now sitting before the fire, surrounded by the children. ”Dear grandfather,” she said, standing behind his chair, so that he could not see her face, ”my foster-brother, Dr. Ludwig Werner, has come.”

”Dr. Ludwig Werner?” the Freiherr repeated. ”Yes, yes, I recollect.

Well, where is he?”

Johanna used all her self-control. ”He has not come for a visit,” she said. ”He has been in Hanover, and was going directly back to Lindenbad, but when the train stopped at Thalrode, Johann Leopold fell in leaving it, and----”

”Dead!” cried the Freiherr, sitting erect in his chair. ”Say the word at once, without the torture of preparation,” he added, as his sister came to him and took his hand.

”No, he lives; be a.s.sured of that,” said Johanna. ”He is only stunned by the fall, and that is why Ludwig has come with him. They have carried him to his room.”

For a moment the Freiherr seemed utterly crushed, but with a mighty effort he rose and stood erect. ”Come, Thekla,” he said, in a monotone.

”So long as he breathes let us hope!”

CHAPTER X.

”THAT BLASe LIEUTENANT.”

It was a sad New Year's day for Donninghausen. Instead of the double celebration, with its gay antic.i.p.ations for the future, there were weary anxious hours beside a sick-bed. Johann Leopold had not yet recovered consciousness. The old family physician shrugged his shoulders and admitted that he was powerless, and the physician summoned from town p.r.o.nounced that in his opinion the patient's condition would end either in death or insanity. Ludwig alone did not relinquish hope, and the calmness in his face and bearing inspired those about him with courage.

Therefore the Freiherr would not hear of his leaving them. ”I beg you, stay with us! If you can do but little for my grandson at present, I still must consider your mere presence as a benefit,” he said, when Ludwig requested to be driven to Thalrode.

”Yes, if you possibly can, stay with us,” Aunt Thekla added; and Ludwig could not feel himself justified in refusing the entreaty of the old brother and sister.

On New Year's evening some of the younger members of the family were a.s.sembled in the drawing-room. Hedwig, the last to join them, went s.h.i.+vering to the fire, and stretched out her hands before the blaze.

”I am cold to my very bones,” she said. ”As I pa.s.sed the ball-room just now, the door was open, and by the light of the hall-lamp, I saw the long white-covered table, and thought how soon it might be replaced by black trestles. Oh, I wish we were away! but Eduard says we mast stay it out.”

”Of course we must!” Hildegard exclaimed. ”What would grandpapa think of our leaving him alone now? At such times the family must hold together.”

”I don't see what good our holding together can do,” said Magelone.

”With the exception of Johanna, who sees that grandpapa and Aunt Thekla do not starve beside the sick-bed----”

”They would be taken care of without her,” Hildegard interposed.

”However, if she chooses to play Martha, let her; our task will be different, and much more difficult, at the death-bed and the funeral.”

”How can you think of death and a funeral all because of a fall on the head!” exclaimed Magelone, rising and going to a window-recess.

Hildegard smiled disdainfully. ”The fable of the ostrich,” she said.

”But what is to be will be, however we may close our eyes to it.”

”Do you really think, then, that he will die?” asked Hedwig.

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