down upon her knee. The kind medical man went backward and forward;
he appeared to be busy about the child; his real care was for the
ladies; and so came on midnight, and the stillness grew more and more
deathly. Charlotte did not try to conceal from herself any longer that
her child would never return to life again. She desired to see it now.
It had been wrapped up in warm woolen coverings. And it was brought down
as it was, lying in its cot, which was placed at her side on the sofa.
The little face was uncovered; and there it lay in its calm sweet
beauty.

The report of the accident soon spread through the village; every one
was aroused, and the story reached the hotel. The Major hurried up the
well-known road; he went round and round the house; at last he met a
servant who was going to one of the out-buildings to fetch something. He
learnt from him in what state things were, and desired him to tell the
surgeon that he was there. The latter came out, not a little surprised
at the appearance of his old patron. He told him exactly what had
happened, and undertook to prepare Charlotte to see him. He then went
in, began some conversation to distract her attention, and led her
imagination from one object to another, till at last he brought it to
rest upon her friend, and the depth of feeling and of sympathy which
would surely be called out in him. From the imaginative she was brought
at once to the real. Enough! she was informed that he was at the door,
that he knew everything and desired to be admitted.

The Major entered. Charlotte received him with a miserable smile. He
stood before her; she lifted off the green silk covering under which the
body was lying; and by the dim light of a taper, he saw before him, not
without a secret shudder, the stiffened image of himself. Charlotte
pointed to a chair, and there they sat opposite each other, without
speaking, through the night. Ottilie was still lying motionless on
Charlotte's knee; she breathed softly, and slept or seemed to sleep.

The morning dawned, the lights went out; the two friends appeared to
awake out of a heavy dream. Charlotte looked toward the Major, and said
quietly: "Tell me through what circumstances you have been brought
hither, to take part in this mourning scene."

"The present is not a time," the Major answered, in the same low tone as
that in which Charlotte had spoken, for fear lest she might disturb
Ottilie; "this is not a time, and this is not a