Bruno seized the hand and pressed it firmly upon his eyes, while two big tears came oozing out from between the closed lids; then he raised himself, with Oswald's assistance. "I am quite right again," he said; "have I really been fainting? How long have I been so?" "Only a little while," replied Oswald, wiping Bruno's face with his handkerchief and setting his clothes in order again. "You have really frightened us; what in the world was the matter?" asked the baroness. "I do not know," replied the boy, whose pale cheeks suddenly flashed in deep purple glow; "it came very suddenly. Thank you, thank you, I think I can get on very well if Mr. Stein will help me." "We'll go back," said the baroness. "How provoking that every little pleasure must be spoilt by some mishap or other." They made their way slowly up again, and returned, out of temper, through the forest. Felix, who was afraid of taking cold, urged them to make haste; Oswald remarked, dryly, he did not wish to detain the company, and would follow slowly with Bruno. Helen declared her intention to stay with Bruno; and the old baron, who had exhibited throughout very warm, but very useless sympathy, proposed that the company should divide into a vanguard and a rearguard; he meant himself to stay with the latter. "You will catch cold, dear Grenwitz," said the baroness; "I think you'd better come with us." "No, I prefer staying with the others," said the old baron, with an earnestness which surprised all of them, and himself perhaps most. He gave his arm to his daughter, but remained near Oswald and Bruno, chatting with them leisurely, as he liked to do, and inquiring from time to time how the boy came on. "I am quite well, quite well," said Bruno, again and again; but Oswald felt that he leaned heavily on his arm, and that his hands were cold. Thus they reached the house, one by one. The old baron disappeared, wishing Bruno a speedy recovery, while Oswald carried the boy at once to his room and sent him to bed. "You are worse, Bruno, than you wish to confess," he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed; "you have your old pain, have not you?" "Yes," said Bruno, and his teeth chattered, and cold perspiration broke out on his forehead. Oswald hastened to use the same remedy as before; and he succeeded in this case also in relieving the patient, at least as far as the pain was concerned. "Will you not tell _me_, Bruno, what brought on the attack?" asked Oswald.