Part 72 (1/2)

”His child,” Hilsborn replied with grave emphasis.

The old lady went up instantly to the lovely, shrinking girl and embraced her, saying significantly to Hilsborn, ”Now I understand you!”

”Dear Fraulein Gleissert,” said Johannes, ”you are most welcome, and you must allow us to offer you a home until you find a better.”

”You are too kind,” stammered Gretchen. ”I know how bold I am, but my guardian----”

”What! Hilsborn, are you her guardian?”

”Her dying father wished it to be so, and therefore I brought her here to place her under your protection, although she wished to see no one except Ernestine.”

”She can hardly see her for sometime yet,” said Mollner. ”Ernestine's fever may be infectious.”

”Oh, is that all?” Gretchen ventured to remonstrate. ”Then pray let me go to her. Nothing can harm me when I am doing my duty. Better to die than live on without being permitted to do as I know I ought. Oh, dear Herr Hilsborn, you know what I mean, speak for me!”

”Do not refuse her, Johannes. She will not be content until she is with Ernestine. I make a fearful sacrifice in exposing her to this danger, when I would guard her like the apple of my eye, but I know how she is longing for Ernestine.”

”Then, Fraulein Gleissert, you shall share with my mother the care of the invalid.”

”Thank you all a thousand times! May I go now?”

”Take her to Ernestine's room, mother dear, while I speak with Hilsborn,” said Johannes.

”Come, then, my child.” The Staatsrathin opened the door of the darkened apartment, and the girl entered.

Gretchen stood as if rooted to the spot. There lay the dreaded, mute accuser of her father, the unfortunate victim of his crimes, pale and beautiful as an ideal embodiment of death,--a glorious lily, prostrated, perhaps never again to stand erect, by the same hand that a few days before had been laid in blessing upon Gretchen's head. The poor child, crushed by the sight, sank upon her knees, and, extending her arms, cried in a suppressed voice of agony, ”Forgive, forgive!”

Ernestine did not reply, for she did not hear. Reason was dethroned behind that pale, broad brow, and confused dreams were running riot there in the wildest anarchy.

Only when Gretchen perceived that Ernestine was wholly unconscious, did she dare to approach close to her. Gazing at her with admiring pity, she murmured to herself, ”No, my father did not understand, or he maligned you. You are not bad, you cannot be bad!” And, kneeling, she breathed a gentle kiss upon the small hand.

Did the invalid feel that something loving was near? She put out her hand towards the kneeling girl, and, detaining her by the dress, leaned her head upon her shoulder.

”She will let me stay by her,” whispered Gretchen with a face of delight.

The Staatsrathin could not help stroking the brow of the charming child, and Frau Willmers felt as if this stranger were an angel, come to lead Ernestine into a better world.

”Such a sick-room I like to see,” suddenly said a suppressed ba.s.s voice that made Gretchen start. ”This is a pretty sight,” it continued, and old Heim looked searchingly at Gretchen from beneath his bushy white eyebrows.

The girl would have arisen, but Ernestine would not release her, and Heim motioned to her to be quiet. ”You have one hand free, my child, give it to me. I am your guardian's foster-father, and I know what a good child you are. The fellow was right to bring you here,--I would have brought you myself. G.o.d bless you!”

He seated himself by the bedside, and a deep expectant silence reigned in the room as he felt Ernestine's pulse. Besides Gretchen's, two other anxious eyes were riveted upon his face. Mollner had just entered noiselessly. ”Well, what do you think?” he asked eagerly.

Heim shrugged his shoulders. ”I do not think it is typhus.

Nevertheless----”

Scarcely had the invalid heard Johannes' voice when she released Gretchen and turned her face towards the spot where Mollner was standing. He approached the bed and leaned over her. She put out her arms to him, but instantly dropped them again, as if, even in her delirium, she would not confess herself conquered. And then she talked wildly on, at times declaring that she could not get rid of the skull,--it would follow her everywhere, and then pleading piteously that she was not yet dead, and they must not put her down into the narrow grave.

”This is the result of a woman's giving herself up to anatomical studies,” said Mollner.