"In the Temple," she murmured, "a mile from this spot. God give me strength to get there! The Temple! A sacred place. I hear the holy music! My dear one, my dear one!" She raised her hands, mid there was a look of ecstasy on her face. Suddenly she recovered herself, and shuddering at the sight of me, said, "May I never again be afflicted with the sight of your face, Gustave Fink! The Temple--the Temple!" And she staggered to the door.
"You will never dream of going there to-night!" I cried; and Anna stood in her way.
"No," she said, "I will not dream of going--I will go. No mortal power shall stop me. The Temple! Do you not hear the music? Ah, how sweet--how sweet!"
"Think a moment," I said, hurriedly; "listen to the storm. It increases in fierceness. There is not a soul in the streets."
"God is there," she answered, "and all his holy angels. You cannot prevent me from going--they will not permit you. I am coming, Gideon, I am coming, my dear one! Thou and I will spend the New Year together. The storm is singing, to guide me to thee!"
"Give me my cloak, Anna," I said; "I will go with Louisa Wolf; otherwise she will perish in the snow."
"I will accompany you, Master Fink," said Anna; "I will not leave you to-night."
In a moment my cloak was on my shoulders, and my fur cap on my head. Anna, also, was as quickly equipped. She would have wrapped a thick shawl round Louisa Wolf, but the kindly service was rejected, and the shawl fell to the ground. I picked it up and carried it on my arm.
We went out into the storm. So thick was the falling snow that I could scarcely see a yard before me. It swirled into our faces, and the sharp wind cut us bitterly. But Louisa Wolf did not feel it. A look of rapture was in her eyes, and on her lips an ecstatic smile.
"Dear angels, lead me!" she whispered, as she stepped from my house.