Beside the man, on a long, black bench, lay something white and downy. What it was Johannes could not clearly see.
"Good morning, doctor!" said Pluizer. But still the doctor did not look up.
Then Johannes was terrified, for the white object at which he was looking so intently, began all at once to struggle convulsively. What he had seen was the downy, white breast of a little rabbit. Its head, with the twitching nostrils, was held backward by pinching clamps of iron, and the four little feet were tightly bound along its body. The hopeless effort to free himself was soon over, and the little creature lay still again; the only sign of life being the rapid movement of the blood-stained throat.
Johannes looked at the round, gentle eyes—so wide open with helpless anguish, and it seemed to him that he recognized them. Was not this the soft little body against which he had rested that first, blissful, elf-land night? Old remembrances came thronging over him. He flew to the little creature.
"Wait, wait! Poor Bunnie, I will help you!" And he hurried to untie the cords which were cutting into the tender little feet.
But his hands were seized in a tight grip, and a shrill laugh rang in his ears.
"What does this mean, Johannes? Are you still so childish? What must the doctor think of you?"
"What does the boy want? Why is he here?" asked the doctor, amazed.
"He wants to be a man, and so I brought him to you; but he is still rather young and childish. This is not the way to find what you are seeking, Johannes!"
"No, this is not the way," said the doctor.