"I thank you for everything, my good Marianne." The latter now hastily left the house and ran as fast as she could through the silent night toward Lower Wood.

From time to time she had to stop to get her breath.

Then she looked up to the bright star-covered sky and prayed: "Dear God, help us all." She had great difficulty in awakening the doctor in Lower Wood at two o'clock in the night; but at last he heard her knocking and followed her soon after on the road to her house.

When they entered together the room of the sick woman, the light had burned down and threw a faint light on the quiet, pale face.
The mother had stretched out her arm upon the bed of her child.

The boy had encircled her slender, white hand with both his plump hands, and held it firmly.