"That's right! Now, how many are there together?"
No answer.
"How many fingers have you on both hands?"
"Ten!"
"Without the thumbs, child,--without either of the thumbs."
Käthchen began her arduous task anew.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Another child late?" said Herr Leonhardt, and cried, "Come in."
But, instead of the rosy face of a child, a pale countenance, with large, dark eyes, appeared, and gazed almost shyly around the circle. This apparition produced a perfect panic. "Oh, heavens! the Hartwich! Mercy! mercy! the woman of the castle!" and similar exclamations of alarm, were heard from all sides. The children started up,--those who were nearest the door crowded away from it, the larger ones dragged the little ones close to their sides, the Catholics even crossed themselves. An actual uproar began, which even the teacher's voice failed at first to control.
Ernestine observed it all without any change in her regular features. Leonhardt approached her respectfully, and would have asked her pardon for the children's folly, but she interrupted him.