There were many ponds in the park, and they could not conceal from themselves that it was possible she might have fallen into one.

It was a most horrible idea for Elise, and sent an anguish like death into her heart, as she thought of returning in the evening to her husband with one child missing, and that one of his favourites--missing through her own negligence.

Death itself seemed to her preferable.
Breathless, and pale as a corpse, she wandered about, and more than once was near sinking to the earth.

In vain the Candidate besought her to spare herself; to keep herself quiet, and leave all to him.

In vain! She heard him not; and restless and unhappy, she sought the child herself.
Jacobi was afraid to leave her long alone, and kept wandering near her; whilst Henrik ran into other parts of the park, seeking about and calling.
It was full two hours of fruitless search after the lost one, when the Candidate had again joined the despairing mother, that at the very same moment their glances both fell suddenly on the same object--it was Petrea! She lay in a thicket at the foot of the hill; drops of blood were visible on her face and dress, and a horrible necklace--a yellow spangled snake!--glittered in the sun around her neck.