, he
certainly would. Is your father so very ill?"

"Ah, jufvrouw," cried Gretel, weeping afresh, "he is dying, I think.
There are two meesters in with him at this moment, and the mother has
scarcely spoken today. Can you hear him moan, jufvrouw?" she added with
sudden terror. "The air buzzes so I cannot hear. He may be dead! Oh, I
do wish I could hear him!"

Hilda listened. The cottage was very near, but not a sound could be
heard.

Something told her that Gretel was right. She ran to the window.

"You cannot see there, my lady," sobbed Gretel eagerly. "The mother has
oiled paper hanging inside. But at the other one, in the south end of
the cottage, you can look in where the paper is torn."

Hilda, in her anxiety, ran around, past the corner where the low roof
was fringed with its loosened thatch.

A sudden thought checked her.

"It is not right for me to peep into another's house in this way," she
said to herself. Then, softly calling to Gretel, she added in a whisper,
"You may look--perhaps he is only sleeping."

Gretel tried to walk briskly toward the spot, but her limbs were
trembling. Hilda hastened to her support.

"You are sick, yourself, I fear," she said kindly.

"No, not sick, jufvrouw, but my heart cries all the time now, even when
my eyes are as dry as yours. Why, jufvrouw, your eyes are not dry! Are
you crying for US? Oh, jufvrouw, if God sees you! Oh! I know father will
get better now." And the little creature, even while reaching to look
through the tiny window, kissed Hilda's hand again and again.

The sash was sadly patched and broken; a torn piece of paper hung
halfway down across it. Gretel's face was pressed to the window.

"Can you see anything?" whispered Hilda at last.

"Yes--the father lies very still, his head is bandaged, and all their
eyes are fastened upon him. Oh, jufvrouw!" almost screamed Gretel, as
she started back and, by a quick, dexterous movement shook off her heavy
wooden shoes. "I MUST go in to my mother! Will you come with me?"

"Not now, the bell is ringing. I shall come again soon. Good-bye!"

Gretel scarcely heard the words. She remembered for many a day afterward
the bright, pitying smile on Hilda's face as she turned away.

The Awakening

An angel could not have entered the cottage more noiselessly. Gretel,
not daring to look at anyone, slid softly to her mother's side.

The room was very still. She could hear the old doctor breathe. She
could