But the sharp ear of the sick woman had heard them. A faint smile of satisfaction passed over her wrinkled face. She beckoned them to her. As they approached the bed, Czika came to stand between them. This seemed to please Xenobia. Her smile became brighter, then it vanished, and she said, in broken German: "Put your hands on Czika's head." Oldenburg and Melitta did so. Oldenburg's hand trembled as it touched the soft hair on the fair young head. "And give me the other hand!" Xenobia took their hands, and when she saw the chain formed in this manner, she murmured something which the others did not understand, and which might have been a curse or a blessing, or both, for the expression of her face changed at every word. Then she said: "Swear that you will not abandon the Czika!" "We swear!" said Oldenburg; while Melitta, unable to utter a word, only moved her lips. Xenobia let go their hands, in order to cross her own hands on her bosom. "Now leave Xenobia alone," she said, in a very low tone of voice; "only Czika is to stay, and the old man." Oldenburg and Melitta looked at each other, and then at the old man, who came up with the cooling drink. He nodded his venerable gray head, as if he meant to say: "Do what she asks." Oldenburg did not dare refuse. He took Melitta's hand and led her out of the room. The clock on the mantel-piece began to strike. The man with the scythe was slowly coming out of his cave. They went back into the garden-room. Neither said a word. Oldenburg threw himself into an arm-chair near the fire, and glared with troubled looks at the coals. Suddenly he felt Melitta's hand on his shoulder. "Adalbert!" He looked up at her with a questioning look. "You will not leave, I am sure?" "If you wish it--no!" "And you will wait in patience till--you can see the bottom of my heart?" "Yes!" "Give me your hand on it." Oldenburg pressed her hand to his face; she felt his tears flowing. She bent down and kissed his brow. Then she sat down on the other side of the fire and fell into deep thought. The bells of a sleigh interrupted the silence. It was Doctor Balthasar. While the old gentleman was warming his hands by the fire, Oldenburg told him what was the matter. "Hem! hem!" said Doctor Balthasar. "Know all: tubercles in the lungs--travelling in this weather--can't recover. Hem! hem! Where is she?--let us have a look at her." As the three were turning round to leave the room, the door opened, and old Baumann, with Czika by his side, entered. "You are too late!" he said to Doctor Balthasar. Melitta, sobbing aloud, drew Czika to her heart. "Hem! hem!" said Doctor Balthasar; "the old story--always call me when all is over--hem! hem! Let us have a look at her." CHAPTER XI.