Do you feel ill ?" "Not exactly; but I'm so anxious--horrible thoughts torment me." Barbara instantly lighted a candle at the night-lamp, entered the chamber with it, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Her heart ached as she gazed at the pretty young creature lying alone, full of sorrow, in the wide bed, unable to sleep from bitter grief.
Maria had never seemed to her so beautiful; resting in her white night-robes on the snowy pillow, she looked like a sorrowing angel.
Barbara could not refrain from smoothing the hair back from the narrow forehead and kissing the flushed cheeks.
Maria gazed gratefully into her small, light-blue eyes and said beseechingly: "I should like to ask you something." "Well ?" "But you must honestly tell me the truth." "That is asking a great deal!" "I know you are sincere, but it is--" "Speak freely." "Was Peter happy with his first wife ?" "Yes, child, yes." "And do you know this not only from him, but also from his dead wife, Eva ?" "Yes, sister-in-law, yes." "And you can't be mistaken ?" "Not in this case certainly! But what puts such thoughts into your head?
The Bible says: 'Let the dead bury their dead.' Now turn over and try to sleep." Barbara went back to her room, but hours elapsed ere Maria found the slumber she sought..