"No, no; not dead. But it is uncertain whether he can recover."
"Poor, poor Fritz! that is why he cried so loud this morning. I heard him in my bed here calling to his mother."
"Just so. Madam Adler is in terrible distress; and Fritz, like a brave boy, is doing all he can to comfort her; and when Fritz comes to see thee thou must be brave also, my Violet, and try to comfort him."
"Yes," she replied, nodding her head in assent, for words were growing difficult to speak, and large tears were rolling down her face. "I never thought of battles," she said pleadingly, as if in excuse for her tears.
"So much the better," said the doctor, pressing the little hot hand in his. "It is much pleasanter to think of peace."
"And soon there will be peace," she said, lifting up her dark, pitiful eyes to his face, heavy with tears.
"Yes, soon there will be peace," he replied, looking at her with a strange, long earnestness.
"And then I shall see father," she added softly, while through the troubled darkness of her eyes there came a slow sweet smile.
At this moment Evelina came into the room; and the doctor hearing her enter, rose up to take his leave.
"Do not leave the child again to-day alone," he said in an undertone as he walked on towards the window where Evelina stood; "and watch her carefully. People may come in and tell her things which may excite and pain her, and her little thread of life will not bear it. We must try to keep it going for a little longer. She is very weak this morning, and seems excited and restless."