"'She will be here again directly, Klaus,' said I. And, as if she had been called, she came in at the door, and, kneeling by his bed, laid her cheek caressingly on his hand.
"'Anna Maria,' he complained, 'my thoughts are already beginning again—my child, my poor little child——'
"She started up. 'Klaus, do not speak so, dear Klaus!'
"'It is so strange,' he whispered on; 'I don't see Susanna distinctly any longer, but I hear her laughing, always laughing. I shut my ears, and yet I hear her laugh.'
"Anna Maria gave me a sad look. 'I will stay with your child, Klaus,' said she. He pressed her hand. His eyes were already glowing feverishly, and all at once he started up, the sound of a silvery laugh came in. Susanna was actually laughing, perhaps with her child—I know not. The next moment the door opened a little way. 'How is Klaus to-day?' she asked.
"Anna Maria did not answer; her eyes were looking at Klaus; he had already fallen back, and his fingers began to play, unnaturally, over the silk quilt.
"I hastened to Susanna. 'He is not very well, my child,' I whispered to her; 'the fever is returning.' Her face grew grave, and she quietly closed the door. 'Always the same thing!' I heard her say, disappointed.
"Stürmer came toward evening, almost at the same time with the two physicians. Susanna was sitting in her blue boudoir, reading. With a sigh of relief she laid her book on the table when Stürmer was announced. He entered quickly. 'Well,' said he, sympathetically, and breathing fast, 'I hear he is not so well again to-day?'
"Susanna gave him her hand. 'So-so, baron,' she replied; 'they are not very wise about the case. The physicians themselves do not know what they ought to say, and Anna Maria is so fearfully anxious, and Aunt Rosamond no less so. They think he is going to die right away. People do not die so easily, do they?' she asked confidently. 'I know from myself; I have been delirious, I——'
"She got no further, for our old family physician suddenly came into the room. I knew what he meant as soon as I looked at him—Klaus was worse.