'Your J. Joachim.'
It was impossible, however, to wait for an answer, and no letter could have appeased the desire of the affectionate young musicians to be on the spot; so Brahms, having no fixed duties to detain him, started immediately for Düsseldorf, and Joachim hoped to follow, if only for a couple of days. On March 3 Johannes sent his report:
'Dearest Joseph,
'Do come on Saturday; it comforts Frau Schumann to see certain dear faces.
'Schumann's condition seems to be improved. The physicians have hope, but no one is allowed to see him.
'I have already been with Frau Schumann. She wept very much, but was very glad to see me and to be able to expect you.
'We expect you on Sunday morning, and Grimm on Wednesday.
'Your
'Johannes.'[47]
'To my great relief,' wrote Dietrich a fortnight later to Naumann, 'Brahms came at once after hearing the dreadful news. Grimm is also here. Joachim was here for two days, and is coming again in a few weeks.'