“Are you not anxious about Hugo? I wonder what can have become of him!”
“I did not like to tell mother,” May replies with a little shiver, “but I had a dreadful dream last night. I saw Hugo white and cold. He looked sorrowfully at me, but when he tried to speak he could not. His look haunts me still!” she softly sobbed, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
But now little Fanny gives a scream of delight. The child has discovered among the Christmas presents a real pipe, a pipe with silver bells.
“Oh, this shall be for Hugo, and then he will have music whenever he smokes!” exclaims the little one, merrily laughing, and holding out the toy in the direction where I am standing.
For a moment I hope she sees me. I try to take the pipe, but my hand cannot clasp it, and the toy seems to slip away from me as if it were a shadow.... I try to speak again, but it is of no use ... they see me not, neither do they hear me!...
Grieved beyond words, I left them, and returning into the next room, went up straight to Alice, who was still at mother’s side, murmuring to her loving words. I spoke again, I entreated, I besought them to look at me, and my suffering was so great that I felt that death would be preferable to this!
Then came a last and supreme effort. Concentrating all my will, I bent over Alice, and gasped out with my whole soul:
“If ever you loved me, Alice, know and hear me now!” I exclaimed, as I pressed my lips to hers.
She gave a shudder, a start, and then, opening her eyes wider and wider, she shrieked in terror:
“Hugo! Hugo! Mother, do you see? Hugo is here!”