His travelling
companions will join him here to-morrow, and then they are all going back
to Germany."
"I fear that the poor boy will lose his day with his sister if I take her
with me," Mrs. Maxa said regretfully.
"Well, that can't be altered," the lady quickly replied. "We are all
only too happy that you are willing to take Leonore into your house. Who
knows how her stay in the hospital might have turned out? Poor Leonore
was so frightened by the thought; but we knew no other way. It does not
matter about her brother's visit, because they can see each other again
in Hanover, for he is at a boarding school there."
The lady now opened a door and led Mrs. Maxa into a room.
"Leonore, look, here is Mrs. Bergmann, a great friend of your mother's."
Miss Remke said, "and I am sure you will be glad of the news she is
bringing you. I shall accept your kind permission to get back to my work
now, Mrs. Bergmann. Everything is ready for Leonore, because she was to
leave for the hospital very shortly."
With these words she went out. The sick child sat completely dressed on
a bed in the corner of the room, half reclining on the pillows.
Mrs. Maxa had to agree with her brother who had said that she had her
mother's large, speaking eyes, the same soft brown curls, and the same
serious expression on her delicately shaped little face. Mrs. Maxa
would have easily recognized the child even without knowing her name.
Leonore only looked more serious still; in fact, her glance was extremely
sad and at that moment tears were hanging on her lashes, for she had been
crying.
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