If it could not be the way Apollonie planned, she might at least stay for a long stretch of time.

All of a sudden this hope was gone entirely, and the day of separation was terribly near.

The girl looked so completely miserable when she started out for school next day that the mother had not the heart to let her go without a little comfort.
"You only need to go to school two more days, Mea," she said.

"Next week you can stay home and spend all your time with Leonore." Mea was very glad to hear it, but without uttering a word she ran away, for everything that concerned Leonore brought tears to her eyes.
Leonore had been looking so pale the last few days that Mrs.Maxa surveyed her anxiously.

Perhaps the recovery had not been as complete as they had hoped, for the news of the close date of her departure had proved to be a great strain for her.