And she grew worse and worse the more she saw him grieve. She did not understand it, felt troubled by it.
And, as there was no anger in his eyes, it grew worse for her still. She cast about for a word that could make him move and say something, no matter what.
But he sat still and silent and slowly turned his face away from her. And she could find nothing to say.
She rose and went to the window and stood there for a while. Then she came back and sat down in a chair:
“What are you thinking of, Cordt?”
“Of you.”
Again they sat silent.
“Adelheid.”
He spoke her name quite calmly and gently, but she was frightened.
“I will fight for you, Adelheid; I mean to fight for you; and the new little baby would have helped me. Now I shall have to fight alone.”