"She is very, very sick," he said, and we saw that it was with difficulty that he restrained his tears. As he opened the door a bit wider to let us in, we saw that a black shawl had been placed over the only window in the room, so that it was extremely difficult after the door was closed for our unaccustomed eyes to see anything in the room.
"Elena," called the boy softly; "here are some visitors to see you."
"For me?" said a voice from the darkness—a voice which we recognized at once.
"Well, then, Gabriel, please take the shawl from the window; they will find it too dark here."
"But Elena, the light will make your head ache."
"No, no, dear; it's alright now I've slept a bit, and I feel better."
Presently the shawl came down from the window, allowing us to see the form of poor Mlle. Virtud on the bed.
"Oh," she said, "so it's you! It's very kind of you, dear children, to come and see me!"
We stood near the door transfixed as we looked on the face of our poor sick teacher and we saw what a terrible change a few days had made. The little boy came and stood near his elder sister with a mixed air of concern and deep affection.
"And how is everybody at the school?" asked the invalid. And Paula told her a bit about the small happenings in the class.