"Never mind," said Bruno, "so she is not with Felix."
"Now the last have gone by," said Oswald, taking his seat again by Bruno's bedside.
Bruno's restlessness seemed to have been increased by this direct reference to Helen, which had heretofore been carefully avoided by both of them. He began once more to speak of Helen. Oswald had to tell him what she wore, whether she looked handsome, very handsome, handsomer than any of the other ladies? whether she had smiled? or looked up at his window?
"Oh, if I could but get up! if I could but see her for a moment!"
"You will see her soon again, Bruno!"
"I don't know; I want to see her so much just to-day, only for a moment. I feel as if I had something to tell her that oppresses my heart. And then, if she refuses Felix,--and she will certainly do so,--she is to go back to school, and then it may be a long time before I ever see her again. But I won't stay here if she goes away. Come, Oswald, let us go to Hamburg. You are clever and know so much; you will easily find employment, and I too--any kind of work, if I can only be near her and see her from time to time."
He fell into a kind of stupor, and then again he suddenly started up.
"Why did Helen go away?"
"You are dreaming, Bruno; she has not been here."
"Nor Aunt Berkow?"