"'Is she still crying?' I asked.
"The old woman shook her head. 'Baron Stürmer is in there.' I heard Susanna's voice through the portières. I heard her even laugh. My first impulse was to hurry in, but it suddenly became impossible to me. I only looked at the child, and went away, weary and weakened from watching and anxiety, up to my room.
"A basket of garlands was standing in the corridor, and beside it the package of the unfortunate lanterns. The baptism was to have been to-morrow, but the coachman was already on his way to inform the numerous guests that it was given up, as the master was ill. My God in heaven, let not the worst come, be pitiful! What would become of Susanna, of his child—ah! and of Anna Maria?
"Then I sat down in my arm-chair and listened to the pattering of the rain, and the wind blowing against the windows; after a little while there came a knock at my door, and Edwin Stürmer entered. He was quite changed from what he used to be; indeed, the news of Klaus's illness might well make him so. Conversation would not flow. I could not help thinking of how I had last seen him, when he took leave of Susanna and me; how she had wept, and how he had written to me afterward. 'There have been great changes here!' said I, in a low tone.
"He did not answer immediately. 'How does Anna Maria get on with—with her sister-in-law?' he asked.
"'Anna Maria?' I was embarrassed. Should I tell him that those two had not learned to understand each other yet?
"'She is here very little,' I said at last; 'she has been living in the convent since Klaus's marriage.'
"He started. 'Still the old quarrel?' he murmured. 'Anna Maria never liked her; I noticed it from the beginning. She is a strange character. There are moments when one might believe she has a heart; but it is ever deception, ever delusion!'
"'Edwin,' I cried bitterly, 'you think you have a right to affirm that; you are mistaken! Perhaps she has more heart than all of us.'
"'It may be,' he remarked coldly, 'but she never shows it.'