But the sick man had not stirred. His face
was still turned from her, as though he slept, and then, again closing
the door, she came back to her lover.
"He is quite quiet," she said, whispering.
"Does he suffer?"
"I think not; he never complains. When he is awake he will sit with my
hand within his own, and now and again there is a little pressure."
"And he says nothing?"
"Very little; hardly a word now and then. When he does speak, it is of
his food."
"He can eat, then?"
"A morsel of jelly, or a little soup. But, Anton, I must tell you--I
tell you everything, you know--where do you think the things that he
takes have come from? But perhaps you know."
"Indeed I do not."
"They were sent to me by Rebecca Loth."
"By Rebecca!"
"Yes; by your friend Rebecca. She must be a good girl."
"She is a good girl, Nina."
"And you shall know everything; see--she sent me these," and Nina
showed her shoes; "and the very stockings I have on; I am not ashamed
that you should know."
"Your want, then, has been so great as that?"
"Father has been very poor.
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