The Major called from his room to know what the Doctor was talking so loudly and excitedly about. Fräulein Milch soothed him by telling him it was nothing for a sick man to hear, though she confessed that they had been talking of Bella. As she re-entered the sitting-room, a messenger arrived from Villa Eden with intelligence which summoned the Doctor and the Professorin thither instantly: Frau Ceres was dangerously ill.
The Doctor and the Professorin made all haste back to the Villa.
CHAPTER V.
THE BLACK HORROR.
"Henry, come! Henry, come back! these are your trees, and your house. Come back! I will dance with you. Henry, Henry!"
Such was Frau Ceres' incessant cry.
She refused all nourishment; she insisted on waiting till her husband said "Dear child, do take something." Only after the most urgent entreaties of Fräulein Perini, did she at last consent to eat something. She wanted to embroider, and took up her work; but the next moment she laid it down again.
Weeping and lamenting, she went through the gardens and greenhouses.
Fräulein Perini had the greatest difficulty in soothing her.
Then Frau Ceres reprimanded the gardener for raking over the paths. The marks of her husband's feet were in the gravel, and they must not be removed, or he would die.