"'Yes; but you know that only your wish—if he should be ill you would reproach yourself.'
"Susanna laughed. 'Klaus ill? How funny! Because he has a little headache?' And she went humming into the next room. Then we heard her call out of the window: 'Good-by, Klaus, good-by!'
"'She means no harm,' I said, taking Anna Maria's trembling hands.
"'It is heartless!' she said, and went down into the garden.
"Klaus did not return until nearly dark.
"'Your package will come soon,' he said to Susanna. 'Stürmer has it in the carriage; I met him in the city; he had just arrived with the Lüneburg post.'
"'Stürmer?' she asked, in an animated tone. 'Did you invite him to the christening, Klaus?'
"'No; indeed, I forgot it,' he replied.
"She flung her arms about his neck. 'Oh, do write to him yet,' she coaxed. 'Yes, please, please! Mercy,' she cried then, 'you are quite wet!'
"'Well, it has been raining hard for two hours,' he replied. 'But don't be offended if I do not write to-night, for I feel miserably; to-morrow will do? I would like to lie down.' He kissed her forehead and went into his sleeping-room. I saw how he shivered, as if he had a chill. 'Thank God that Anna Maria did not hear,' I thought; but I went to tell her that Klaus was not feeling well, while Susanna sprang up to hasten to her writing-desk, and with a happy smile took up a pen.