"You are the freehold farmer, I suppose?"
"Yes; and you're the doctor?"
"Yes."
"How is she?"
"I don't think she will die before evening."
Hansei's eyes filled with tears.
The uncle asked Gunther to allow him to fetch out the little kid. He granted his request. Stepping softly, he brought it out, gave it something to drink and, carrying it back again, placed it at the sick girl's feet.
"She opened her eyes and nodded to me, but she didn't say a word; and then she closed her eyes again," said the uncle.
Hansei begged that he might be permitted to see Irmgard once more. He was allowed to look through the crevice in the shutter. When Gunther again returned to the sick-room, Hansei, weeping as if his heart would break, walked out along the road that led toward the town.
"Uncle's right: she's become like an angel," said he to himself.