Ottilie heard the word, and sank upon the sofa.  Nanny saw her mistress turn pale, fall back, and faint.  She ran for Charlotte, who came.  The medical friend was on the spot in a moment.  He thought it was nothing but exhaustion.  He ordered some strong soup to be brought.  Ottilie refused it with an expression of loathing:  it almost threw her into convulsions, when they put the cup to her lips.  A light seemed to break on the physician:  he asked hastily and anxiously what Ottilie had taken that day.  The little girl hesitated.  He repeated his question, and she then acknowledged that Ottilie had taken nothing.

There was a nervousness of manner about Nanny which made him suspicious.  He carried her with him into the adjoining room; Charlotte followed; and the girl threw herself on her knees, and confessed that for a long time past Ottilie had taken as good as nothing; at her mistress’s urgent request, she had herself eaten the food which had been brought for her; she had said nothing about it, because Ottilie had by signs alternately begged her not to tell any one, and threatened her if she did; and, as she innocently added, “because it was so nice.”

The Major and Mittler now came up as well.  They found Charlotte busy with the physician.  The pale, beautiful girl was sitting, apparently conscious, in the corner of the sofa.  They had begged her to lie down; she had declined to do this; but she made signs to have her box brought, and resting her feet upon it, placed herself in an easy, half recumbent position.  She seemed to be wishing to take leave; and by her gestures, was expressing to all about her the tenderest affection, love, gratitude, entreaties for forgiveness, and the most heartfelt farewell.

Edward, on alighting from his horse, was informed of what had happened; he rushed to the room; threw himself down at her side; and seizing her hand, deluged it with silent tears.  In this position he remained a long time.  At last he called out:  “And am I never more to hear your voice?  Will you not turn back toward life, to give me one single word?  Well, then, very well.  I will follow you yonder, and there we will speak in another language.”

She pressed his hand with all the strength she had; she gazed at him with a glance full of life and full of love; and drawing a long breath, and for a little while moving her lips inarticulately, with a tender effort of affection she called out, “Promise me to live;” and then fell back immediately.

“I promise, I promise!” he cried to her; but he cried only after her; she was already gone.

After a miserable night, the care of providing for the loved remains fell upon Charlotte.  The Major and Mittler assisted her.  Edward’s condition was utterly pitiable.  His first thought, when he was in any degree recovered from his despair, and able to collect himself, was, that Ottilie should not be carried out of the castle; she should be kept there, and attended upon as if she were alive:  for she was not dead; it was impossible that she should be dead.  They did what he desired; at least, so far as that they did not do what he had forbidden.  He did not ask to see her.