This time Els had helped him.
How faithfully she cared for them all! Yes, she had barred out even the faintest glimmer.

Eva smiled as she saw the numerous pins with which her sister had fastened the curtain, and an irresistible longing seized her to see once more the wonderful light that promoted the growth of the hair if cut during its increase, and also exerted so strange an influence upon her.
She must look up at the moon! Swiftly and skilfully, as if aided by invisible hands, her dainty fingers opened curtain and window.
Drawing a deep breath, with an emotion of pleasure which she had not experienced for a long time, she gazed at the linden before the house steeped in silvery radiance, and upward to the pure disk of the full moon sailing in the cloudless sky.

How beautiful and still the night was! How delightful it would be to walk up and down the garden, with her aunt the abbess, with Els, and perhaps--she felt the blood crimson her cheeks--with Heinz Schorlin! Where was he now?
Undoubtedly with the Emperor and his ladies, perhaps at the side of the Bohemian princess, the young Duchess Agnes, who yesterday had so plainly showed her pleasure in his society.
Just then the watch, marching from the Marienthurn to the Frauenthor, gave her vagrant thoughts a new turn.

The city guard was soon followed by a troop of horse, which probably belonged to the Emperor's train.
It was delightful to gaze, at this late hour, into the moonlit street, and she wondered that she had never enjoyed it before.

True, it would have been still pleasanter had Els borne her company; and, besides, she longed to tell her the new explanation she had found for Wolff's altered manner.
Perhaps her mother was asleep, and she could come with her.
How still the house was! Cautiously opening the door of the sick-room, she glanced in.