"'An invincible desire possessed me to stroke the bushy hair that fell across my face. Close to my eyes I saw a few silver threads gleaming. "'It is already beginning to get grey,' I thought to myself, 'it is high time that he should taste what happiness is like.' And then I really stroked him. "He sighed in his sleep and sought to nestle closer with his head. "'He is lying uncomfortably.' I said to myself; 'you must move up nearer to him.' "I did so. His shoulder leant against mine, and his head fell upon my breast. "'You must put your arm round him,' a voice within me cried, 'otherwise he will still not find rest.' "Twice or three times I attempted, and as often I drew back. "What if Martha should suddenly wake! But even then her eyes saw nothing--her ears heard nothing. "And I did it. "Then a wild joy seized me: secretly I pressed him to me--and within me there arose the jubilant thought: 'Ah, how I would care for you and watch over you; how I would kiss those wicked furrows away from your brow, and the troubles from your soul! How I would fight for you with my virgin strength and never rest till your eyes were once more glad, and your heart once more full of sunshine! But for that----I looked across at Martha. Yes, she lived, she still lived. Her bosom rose and fell in short, rapid gasps. She seemed more alive than ever. "And suddenly it flamed up before me, and the words seemed as if I saw them distinctly written over there on the wall-- "'_Oh, that she might die!_' "Yes, that was it, that was it. "Oh, that she might die! Oh, that she might die!" VII. Drawing a deep breath, the physician stopped short, and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. Robert had jumped up, stared for a moment at the flaming orb of the lamp, as if dazzled by the light, and then rushed towards the old man as if to tear the paper out of his hands. "That does indeed stand there?" he stammered. "Read for yourself!" said the other. A long silence ensued. The lamp burnt with its quiet, cheery light as if it were illumining a deed of brightest gladsomeness, and softly, as if with velvety paws, the wind touched the windows. Downstairs everything seemed to be growing quieter. The intervals between the bursts of laughter grew longer and longer--the babel of voices changed to a steady, dull buzz. The people were getting tired--they were digesting. The physician looked round for Robert. He had dropped down once more upon the ledge of the empty bedstead, had buried his face in his hands, and was absolutely motionless. Only his heaving breath, which escaped his breast in short, irregular gasps, testified to the turmoil that was raging within him. "Come to yourself, my boy," said the physician, laying his hand on Robert's shoulder. "Uncle, of course it goes without saying--she was not in her right mind when she wrote this?" "She was never more in her right mind than at that moment!"