"The doctor did not wait for the question.
"'There will be a crisis before day,' he said.
"'What does that mean?' asked the other. The doctor explained that Paula would rise, as it were, to the crest of a steep hill, whence she would go down to life or death as God should please.
"'But what can we do?' demanded the Predikant.
"'Very little,' replied the doctor. 'Beyond the care I am giving her now, the thing is out of our hands. We can only look on and hope. There is always hope.'
"'And always hope betrayed,' said the Predikant. 'But is she worse now than she was this afternoon when she babbled of the little hands?'
"'Yes,' answered the doctor.
"'But I prayed,' said the Predikant, with a faint note of argument and question.
"'Quite right, too,' replied the doctor.' Go and pray again,' he suggested.
"The Predikant shook his head.' It is wasting time,' he whispered, and turned to tiptoe out. But at the door he turned and crept back again.