“But if you should fall again——”
“No, I won’t run any more; I will play quietly.”
She walked away, and my daughter remained behind. I wondered if I might take advantage of that moment. But the wall was rather high; how could I get to her? Ah! by mounting my horse, I could do it perhaps.
I climbed down from my tree, and ran back to Pettermann, who was still in the saddle; I mounted my horse and motioned to my companion to follow me. In a moment I was beside the garden wall again. I stood on my horse, reached the top of the wall, jumped, and in a moment was on the terrace, leaving Pettermann staring at me with amazement, but without uttering a word.
I walked a few steps into the garden; I saw my daughter, I ran to her, took her in my arms and covered her with kisses before she had time to recognize me; at last she was able to look at me and she cried joyfully:
“It is papa! my little papa! you have come back, haven’t you? I keep asking mamma every day if you are coming back.”
“Hush, hush, my child; come this way, on the terrace; I don’t want to be seen from the house.”
“Wait; I will go and call mamma.”
“No, no; don’t go; stay with me, don’t leave me; it is so long since I have kissed you, dear child! Do you think of me sometimes?”
“Oh! yes, papa, I longed so for you.”