what you would like to do?" replied Eleanore, also trembling
with cold. "And your father? Haven't you the slightest consideration for
him? Do you want to give him more worry than he already has? What is
the matter with you, you crazy girl?"

"I am a sinner, Eleanore," cried Gertrude, fell on her knees, and
clasped Eleanore about the hips. "I am a sinner."

"Yes? A sinner? What sin, pray, have you committed?" asked Eleanore, and
bent down over her.

"Why am I in that house there, in that prison?" cried Gertrude, and
clasped her hands to her breast. "Evil has come over me, evil has taken
possession of me. I have evil thoughts. Look at me, Eleanore, look at
me!"

Her voice had now mounted to the pitch of a piercing shriek. Eleanore
stepped back from her, terror-stricken. Gertrude fell head first on the
floor. Her hair covered her bent and twitching back.

The door leading to Jordan's room opened, and he himself came in
carrying a lighted candle. In default of pajamas, he had thrown a
chequered shawl around his shoulders, the fringes of which were dangling
about his knees. He had a white-peaked night-cap on his head.

Quite beside himself, he looked at the two girls and wanted to say
something; but he was speechless. When much worried he would always
smirk. It was a disagreeable habit. In Eleanore it always aroused a
feeling of intense compassion. "There is nothing wrong, father," she
stammered, and made an awkward gesture which indicated to him that it
would be most agreeable to her if he would go away. "Gertrude has pains
in her stomach; she tried to go to the medicine chest to get a few
drops. Please go, father; I'll put her to bed."

"I will go to the doctor, or I will call Benno and have him go," said
Jordan.

"No, father, it is not necessary. Please go away!"

He appreciated Eleanore's impatience and obediently withdrew, shielding
the light of the candle with his hand; his gigantic shadow followed
along behind him like some unclassified animal.

"Get up, Gertrude, get up and come with me!" said Eleanore.

Gertrude was taken back to her room. After she had been in bed for a few
minutes, there was a knock at the door. It was Jordan; he asked how she
felt. Eleanore told him everything was all right.

Until the moon had disappeared below the church roof, Eleanore sat on
Gertrude's bed, and held her mute hand in her own. Though she had thrown
a cloak about her shoulders, she was cold. Gertrude lay with open,