"Rest yourself first," I said, compassionately; it was evident she did not know that Gideon had left my employment; "rest yourself, and take some food. Then we will talk."
"I want no rest," she cried, "nor will I eat in your house! It would choke me. Give me back my son you shall no longer keep him from me! I have walked fifty miles through the snow to see him, hoping to be here two days ago; but the cruel snow kept me back. Oh, my God, what I have suffered! My son--my son--give me my son! Do you hear me? Give me my son! Gideon, Gideon!" she screamed. "Your old mother is here! Come to me, for God's sake come to me!" Her screams brought Anna into the room. "Ah," cried Louisa Wolf, running to Anna, and putting her hands convulsively upon her; "you are a woman; you have a human heart beating in your breast--not like that monster there--"
"Stop!" exclaimed Anna; "you are crazy--you don't know what you are saying. Master Fink is a good and just man, and any one who says otherwise cannot be in her right senses."
"Anna," I said, sadly, "do not waste time in defending me. We stand in the presence of a sorrow so overwhelming that all other considerations are as nought in my eyes. I forgive Louisa Wolf for any words she may speak against me. The great Lord of all, who rules the storm and the tempest without--not fiercer is it, Anna, than the storm which racks and tears this poor woman's soul--has seen my actions, and will judge me." Anna came to my side and kissed my hand; it was a simple action, but it comforted me. "Louisa Wolf," I said, "your son is not here."
"Where, then, can he be?" she moaned, and she looked about the room really as though she were bereft of reason. "Merciful God! Do not tell me he is dead!"
"He lives," I said, " but I know nothing more of him than that. He left my house four months ago, and from that day we have spoken no word to each other."
"Four months ago!" she muttered. "That must be about the time you came to our old village. Why did he not tell me--why did not you? You are speaking the truth, Gustave Fink? Swear it, by your mother's spirit!"
"I am speaking the truth, Louisa Wolf," I said; "I swear to it by the memory of my mother!"
"Then I have no business here," she said, bewildered and dazed. "I came to this house to find him to press him in my arms--to embrace him, and receive his kisses! Oh, my dear one, my baby boy, where art thou? Tell me, you two--my enemies--tell me where I shall find my son."
"He lives in the Temple," I said, "a mile from this spot. That is all I know, and all I can tell you."