At that moment Charlotte was heard driving up.  The surgeon implored the servants to keep back, and allow him to go to meet her and prepare her.  But he was too late; while he was speaking she had entered the drawing-room.  She found Ottilie on the ground, and one of the girls of the house came running and screaming to her open-mouthed.  The surgeon entered at the same moment, and she was informed of everything.  She could not at once, however, give up all hope.  She was flying up stairs to the child, but the physician besought her to remain where she was.  He went himself, to deceive her with a show of fresh exertions, and she sat down upon the sofa.  Ottilie was still lying on the ground; Charlotte raised her, and supported her against herself, and her beautiful head sank down upon her knee.  The kind medical man went backward and forward; he appeared to be busy about the child; his real care was for the ladies; and so came on midnight, and the stillness grew more and more deathly.  Charlotte did not try to conceal from herself any longer that her child would never return to life again.  She desired to see it now.  It had been wrapped up in warm woolen coverings.  And it was brought down as it was, lying in its cot, which was placed at her side on the sofa.  The little face was uncovered; and there it lay in its calm sweet beauty.

The report of the accident soon spread through the village; every one was aroused, and the story reached the hotel.  The Major hurried up the well-known road; he went round and round the house; at last he met a servant who was going to one of the out-buildings to fetch something.  He learnt from him in what state things were, and desired him to tell the surgeon that he was there.  The latter came out, not a little surprised at the appearance of his old patron.  He told him exactly what had happened, and undertook to prepare Charlotte to see him.  He then went in, began some conversation to distract her attention, and led her imagination from one object to another, till at last he brought it to rest upon her friend, and the depth of feeling and of sympathy which would surely be called out in him.  From the imaginative she was brought at once to the real.  Enough! she was informed that he was at the door, that he knew everything and desired to be admitted.

The Major entered.  Charlotte received him with a miserable smile.  He stood before her; she lifted off the green silk covering under which the body was lying; and by the dim light of a taper, he saw before him, not without a secret shudder, the stiffened image of himself.  Charlotte pointed to a chair, and there they sat opposite each other, without speaking, through the night.  Ottilie was still lying motionless on Charlotte’s knee; she breathed softly, and slept or seemed to sleep.

The morning dawned, the lights went out; the two friends appeared to awake out of a heavy dream.  Charlotte looked toward the Major, and said quietly:  “Tell me through what circumstances you have been brought hither, to take part in this mourning scene.”