The blessed relief that followed this brief conversation kept the invalid sunk in profound sleep all the rest of the day.
When Heim came, towards evening, he would not even see her, lest he should disturb the repose which was, he said, the best medicine for a convalescent.
At nightfall she opened her eyes and saw Johannes sitting beside her.
"Are you still with me?" she asked.
"I am always with you, Ernestine. I shall never leave you," he said with fervour.
Her eyelids closed, and she was silent, but her breath came quickly. He saw that his words had excited her, and he resolved carefully to avoid in future every syllable that could possibly disturb the perfect repose of her mind.
He left the room, that she might become composed. Willmers persuaded her to take some nourishment, and she fell asleep again without a word.
She was so much refreshed the next morning that Johannes breakfasted with his mother for the first time for many days, and assured her that he confidently hoped now for Ernestine's speedy recovery.
"Thank God!" ejaculated the Staatsräthin fervently. "Since yesterday I have seen how dear she may become to me. I acknowledge now that you, my son, understood this rare creature better than I did. But where are Gretchen and Hilsborn? Why do they not come to breakfast?"
"They are taking a turn together in the garden. How happy they are!"