Leonore had grown as white as a sheet from fright.

“May I ask if it is my brother’s carriage, or—­” Mrs. Maxa hesitated a little.

“Yes, certainly,” the lady interrupted, while she rapidly pulled some covers and shawls out of a wardrobe.  “Your brother has come himself in order to see that the carriage is well protected.  He also means to give the coachman the directions himself, but we must not keep him waiting.  What a kind friend he is!”

Mrs. Maxa had already lifted Leonore from her bed and was carrying her out.

“Please bring all the necessary things downstairs.  I can do this easily alone, for she is as light as a feather,” she called back to the lady who had hastened after her in order to help.

Going downstairs Mrs Maxa said, “Leonore, I am going to take you home with me now.  The doctor is letting me do what I wished:  you will stay with me till you are well again, and I shall take care of you.  Shall you like to come with me?  We know each other a little already and I hope you won’t feel so strange with us.”

Leonore, flinging both arms about Mrs. Maxa’s neck, held her so tight that she could feel the little girl considered her no stranger any longer.

Suddenly Leonore called back in jubilating tones, “Salo, Salo, did you hear?”

Salo had heard her call but comprehended nothing further.  Miss Remke had piled such heaps of shawls and covers on his arms that one always slid down after the other and he was obliged to pick them up again.  As quickly as the circumstances allowed, he ran after his sister.

Arrived at the carriage, Mrs. Maxa immediately looked about for her brother.  She wanted to hand Leonore to him while she prepared everything in the conveyance for the child’s comfort.

He was already there.  Understanding his sister’s sign, he took the child into his arms, then lifted her gently into the carriage.  His glance was suddenly arrested by the boy, who was standing beside the carriage with his burdens.

With the most joyful surprise he exclaimed, “As sure as I am born this must be a young Salo.  It is written in his eyes.  Give me your hand, boy.  Your father was my friend, my best friend in the world; so we must be friends, too.”

Salo’s eyes expressed more and more surprise.  This manner of being taken to a hospital seemed very odd to him.  The strangest of all, however, was that Leonore sat in the corner of the carriage smiling contentedly, for Mrs. Maxa had just whispered something into her ear.

“Do we have to say good-bye now, Leonore,” Salo asked, jumping up the carriage step, “and can’t I see you any more?”

“Salo,” Mrs. Maxa said, “I was just thinking that you could sit beside the coachman if you want to.  You can drive to Nolla with us, for you will want to see where Leonore is going.  I can have you brought back to-morrow in time to meet your friends.  Do you approve of that, Philip?”